Successful Repatriation of 164 KAYI’S workers stranded in Algeria

The Embassy announces with deep satisfaction that today, 164 Pakistani workers employed by M.S. KAYI Company have been successfully repatriated to Pakistan. This has only been possible due to dynamic and able leadership of Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Foreign Secretary  Sohail Mahmood.

It is worth mentioning that these workers have not been paid since a year. The workers were awaiting their salaries for the last 05 months. During these five months, Mission supported the workers by providing them food and cash assistance. The Mission with full support of the Ministry has successfully negotiated with the Algerian authorities to release their salaries. The Algerian government has graciously released US$ 1.09 million for disbursement of salaries to these workers. On request of the Mission, the Algerian authorities also arranged a special chartered flight for their repatriation. The flight left Algiers for Lahore today at 1115 hours.

Ambassador Ata Munim Shahid highly praised the unrelenting support and cooperation extended by the brotherly government of Algeria in resolving this humanitarian issue on most compassionate grounds by unfreezing the funds for 164 destitute Pakistani workers who had been left stranded amid COVID-19 and even before.

He also conveyed his deep gratitude to the Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Sabri Boukadoum and Ambassador Mohamed Haneche, Director General (Europe) for their constant support and facilitation in release of the workers’ salaries, hospitality as well as arranging a special flight for their safe repatriation.

Algiers

3rd September 2020