A MAN and his family have been trapped in Pakistan for three weeks after the country entered a strict state of lockdown.

Sajed Khan, from Worthing, travelled to the country on March 17 with his wife, three young children and 77-year-old father, but has been unable to return to the UK after the a clamp down on travel to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Their British Airways flight back to the UK was cancelled and the family were kicked out of their hotel as owners said it was being used to house people who had tested positive for the virus.

The family are now spending two nights at a time at the houses of relatives in the area.

They are currently staying in the province of Rawalpindi.

Mr Khan said: “It’s been incredibly stressful looking for somewhere to live with three young children in tow.

“For weeks, we have been between different relatives’ houses and there is a lot of fear here that foreigners brought the virus to Pakistan.”

Now he is desperate to return to the UK.

In discussions with British Airways, Mr Khan said the airline has agreed to refund the family’s return tickets.

But it will take 21 days for the refunds to arrive in his bank account.

Meanwhile Pakistan International Airlines is operating a limited number of flights to repatriate British nationals, which started on Saturday and will continue until tomorrow.

Mr Khan said prices per ticket had risen from between £200 and £300 to £800 – a sum he will find difficult to afford without the money from the refunded British Airways tickets.

He said: “We’ve had no contact with BA or British authorities to help us get back to the UK while we hear other governments are doing everything they can to bring their citizens home.

“We are taking every day as it comes trying to set some kind of ‘normality’ to our family life while living out of suitcases.

“We live each day in the hope that, soon, we can get back safely. It’s almost like we have just been forgotten and have to try everything we can to be heard.”

The family are among many Britons to be trapped in Pakistan. One group of stranded UK citizens have started a campaign called #BritsstrandedinPakistan which is calling on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to take urgent action.

British Airways and Pakistan International Airlines have been contacted for comment.

The FCO told The Independent that High Commissions are able to offer financial assistance to British nationals, including emergency loans, if they are struggling financially and have no other options. The High Commissioner to Pakistan has tweeted that those needing assistance should email returnfrompakistan@fco.gov.uk.

“We recognise British tourists abroad are finding it difficult to return to the UK because of the unprecedented international travel and domestic restrictions that are being introduced around the world – often with very little or no notice,” said an FCO spokesperson.

“The government has partnered with a number of airlines who have committed to work together to get Brits back to the UK and up to £75 million has been made available for charter flights where commercial options are no longer available.

“We’ll continue working around the clock to bring people home.”