In response to the escalating regional situation, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) and issued a stark advisory for its citizens across the Gulf region.
Urgent Advisory for Pakistani Nationals
The Foreign Office strongly advised all Pakistani nationals residing in Gulf countries to exercise utmost caution. The official statement urged citizens to remain indoors where possible, avoid unnecessary travel, and strictly follow instructions from local host governments.
“The Crisis Management Unit is operational 24/7 to closely monitor developments and extend all necessary assistance,” the ministry stated.
Key Emergency Contact Information
The primary contact for the Crisis Management Unit in Islamabad is: +92-51-9207887.
For direct assistance abroad, the Foreign Office released the following emergency contacts for its embassies and consulates:
Iran
- Embassy, Tehran: +98-21-669413-88/89/90/91 (Landline) | +98-9107648298 (Mobile)
- Consulate, Zahidan: +98-54-33223389 | +98-9046145412 (Mobile)
- Consulate, Mashhad: +98-9107625302 (Mobile) | +98-9371807175
Saudi Arabia
- Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)114887272, +966(0)114884111, +966(0)114884222 (Landlines) | +966 57 628 4980, +966 56 050 5030 (Mobile)
- Consulate General, Jeddah: +966(0)126689149, +966(0)126692371 (Landlines) | +966 59 000 8295, +96653 661 7573 (Mobile)
United Arab Emirates
- Embassy, Abu Dhabi: +971 50 254 8975 | Hotline: +971 2 444 7800
- Consulate General, Dubai: +971 56 647 2721 | +971 (0) 4397 0412
Other Gulf States
Contacts were also provided for diplomatic missions in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, including specific community welfare officers and mission heads.
Regional Context
The advisory follows a significant deterioration in regional security. Reports indicate strikes in Tehran, and Pakistani diplomatic officials have confirmed at least one national was killed in recent cross-border missile strikes. Pakistan International Airlines has suspended flights to the UAE and other Gulf countries, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned what he termed a “serious regional escalation” in calls with regional leaders.
The activation of the CMU underscores the government’s move to a heightened state of alert to protect its substantial diaspora in the Gulf region during the ongoing crisis.
