Former Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has returned to Pakistan after four months.

Mr Sharif said he had made the decision to return after Pakistan government’s decision to suspend international flights for two weeks as part of its measures to prevent spread of coronavirus.

Shehbaz landed in Islamabad at 05:30 AM via Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-786.

Just landed Islamabad — aik doosray se faasla rakhain aur koshish kar ke ghar per rahain ta ke koi bhi hum main se is beemari ki waja se apnay piyaroon se juda na ho- Allah aap sab ka aur watan e aziz ka Hamiyo Nasir ho. Love you all!

Advertisement

— Shehbaz Sharif (Stay at home to stay safe) (@CMShehbaz) March 22, 2020

Yesterday, the Pakistan Muslim League N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb Shahbaz Sharif had decided to return to the country “in view of the situation of the spread of coronavirus”.

The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz president had left for London in November last year along with his brother and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who was allowed to travel abroad by the government and courts to seek medical treatment.

Marriyum Aurangzeb had said although Nawaz was scheduled to undergo surgery next week, Shehbaz had “decided that his presence among the [Pakistani] people was more important”.

She had said the PML-N president is returning to “play his role in saving the nation from coronavirus” in the country and other efforts.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan on Saturday announced it was suspending international flights for two weeks owing to the coronavirus.

According to the government advisory shared by Moeed W Yousuf, the special assistant to the premier on national security, the suspension will be effective from March 21 to April 4.

PIA flights do not operate on Saturdays.

However, due to the coronavirus and the ensuing commotion, this weekend the PIA was operating flights.