Islamabad, May 21, IRNA -- The first group of Iranian citizens, including students, stranded in Pakistan after COVID-19 outbreak were repatriated to their home land on a special flight on Thursday.

The Iranian nationals left Islamabad International Airport for Tehran few hours ago on a Boeing 707 aircraft belonging to Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The group comprising 60 Iranian citizens includes 24 students.

The first case of COVID-19 was reported by Pakistani Ministry of Health on February 27 in Karachi.

According to National Command and Operation Center the number of COVID-19 patients in Pakistan has soared to 48, 076 with 14, 155 recoveries and 1,017 deaths.

During past 24 hours a record 2,193 new coronavirus cases had been reported in the country.

The government of Pakistan has urged citizens to self-quarantine and keep physical interaction to a minimum as the number of cases continues to soar every day.

The COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the mysterious contagion has so far killed thousands of people and infected tens of thousands of others across the globe.

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