Family remain trapped in Pakistan one month after initial appeal

Wajid Majeeid, of Stechford, is currently stranded in Dadyal in Azad Kashmir with his mother, son, nephew and brother.

The family were originally scheduled to fly home on March 29, but had their flight cancelled when all flights in and out of Pakistan were suspended.

And they are still trapped their today, despite several attempts to contact the UK authorities to arrange transport home.

Only Mr Majeeid’s wife has so far been able to fly home, with the family booking her a flight at overinflated prices so that she could return to look after her other children.

And Mr Majeeid says he is "disgusted" with the response from the UK government so far, saying he and his family have been "abandoned".

“Our experience has been disgusting trying to deal with the authorities and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA),” he said.

“I am shocked and in disgust that we have been abandoned – it makes us feel like England is a 3rd world country seeing as though our own government haven’t even attempted to try to save us after trying to contact them many times.

“Luckily my wife was able to get back to our children on the 12th of April while my flight was meant to be on the 16th, but got cancelled for the third time. When I went to get another ticket from PIA for the 25th of April they started asking me for large amounts of money which I do not have the funds to pay for the ticket.

“It is shameful the way PIA have been acting – even though there was an announcement by the Pakistani government that tickets to get sent home would be at a fixed price of £525 for new tickets and they have failed to honour existing return tickets.

“They know people here have no other way of getting home to their loved ones in these worrying times. Other members of my family have made payment to these supposed emergency flights that the UK government have organised but are still waiting to be rescued and sent home.

“We are also currently on lockdown which means we are only allowed to leave our house for certain reasons. It is very hard living here without my family members because I am constantly worried about them and can barely contact them because there is barely any service for internet where I am living.

“I am trying to secure myself another ticket for the 5th of May but PIA are asking me to pay an extra 40,000 Rupees just to change the date which I have no other choice but to pay. This should be free due to cancellations on PIA’s behalf.

“We are British – get us out of here!”