Saudi  citizens living in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and two other Asian countries have been advised to return home “as soon as possible”  following the surge in coronavirus cases in these nations, according to a Dawn report.

The advisory was issued as no flights would be available from these countries even if Riyadh decides to resume international flights next month.

The other two countries are Indonesia and the Philippines.

According to a notification issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) on Friday, the decision has been taken after a surge in coronavirus cases in these countries.

Saudi authorities have also temporarily banned flights from a number of European Union countries and Switzerland, the report said.