Working from home was not an option for Fayaz, and Bishkek came across as a scenic, affordable quarantine destination.
Fayaz Munir, a Pakistani expatriate who recently flew from Islamabad to Dubai via Kyrgyzstan, a central Asian country, amid the travel ban since May 13 owing to a spike in Covid-19 cases in his native country, shared his travel experience with Khaleej Times.
“Kyrgyzstan, which is known for its cold climate, has splendid natural beauty. It’s one of the best countries to spend time in quarantine,” Fayaz said.
Many UAE residents from South Asia such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal are stuck in their native countries due to the travel suspension.
The travel suspensions from India and the other South Asian nations came into effect from April 24 and May 13, respectively.
These residents are exploring options to return to Dubai via a few Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including Kyrgyzstan.
The UAE authorities have allowed these countries for a 14-day mandatory quarantine period before residents can head back to their home-away-home and workplaces.
For instance, Fayaz, who works as a senior accountant and lives at Al Warqa, was in dire need to reach Dubai in a bid to hold on to his job.
Work-from-native Pakistan was not an option for Fayaz.
He got desperate and found Kyrgyzstan as a viable option.
“I contacted many travel agents to reach Dubai. I received feedback from them, but found Kyrgyzstan to be a viable option because of the reasonable cost of living,” Fayaz added.
Islamabad to Bishkek
Fayaz flew from Islamabad to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on June 11, 2021, along with a few co-passengers from Pakistan on their way to Dubai.
He paid Dh1,600 for the one-way ticket to Bishkek for a two-hour flight.
“Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines operate flights from Islamabad to Kyrgyzstan, but the tickets are expensive and travel time increases to over 10 hours because of prolonged…