86 Pakistani nationals departed Greece voluntarily on Tuesday and returned to their home country boarding a flight chartered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Their return was organised in the framework of the Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) program, in cooperation with the Greek Migration & Asylum Ministry's Asylum Service and the Greek Police. The project is 75% financed by the European Commission's Asylum, Migration & Integration Fund (AMIF), and 25% by Greek state funds.
At least 9,020 foreign nationals have safely returned to their home countries from Greece since the project was launched in September 2019, a ministry statement said.
Speaking at Athens International Airport, Migration & Asylum Notis Mitarakis said that voluntary migrants' returns have doubled. He also mentioned Greece's agreement with border patrol agency Frontex, reached on Monday, to boost the planning and facilities for such returns.