Chandigarh, March 3: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced the establishment of a 24-hour helpline to assist Punjabis stranded in the Middle East as regional tensions continue to disrupt international travel. The move comes as high-profile figures, including actor Ammy Virk, and ordinary tourists report being unable to return home due to the escalating conflict.
The state’s NRI Affairs Minister, Dr. Ravjot Singh, has already reached out to the Union External Affairs Ministry seeking an urgent meeting to discuss evacuation strategies. Government officials affirmed that the administration is committed to using all available political and diplomatic channels to ensure the safe return of its residents.
Baltej Pannu, AAP general secretary, reaffirmed the state’s proactive stance after speaking with Virk. He stated that the government is not only focused on high-profile cases but is also concerned for people like a newlywed couple from Mansa currently stuck in Dubai. “We pray to God for the war to end soon and for peace to be restored,” Pannu asserted.
Virk, who has appeared in several Bollywood and Punjabi hits, noted that every news update now feels personal. “The situation in the UAE has been weighing heavily on my heart,” he affirmed in a recent statement. He maintained that the collective hope of those with family abroad is for stability and the swift restoration of peace in the region.
The government has urged all families with relatives currently in the UAE, Qatar, or other affected areas to provide details to the newly formed help desk to facilitate better coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs.
