Aviation reporter,Daily Dawn, Dawn TV Report
Islamabad: Britain has removed Pakistan’s name from the air safety list, after which the bans on Pakistani airlines have been lifted. On the other hand, PIA has said that initially, three flights will be operated weekly.
On Wednesday, the British High Commission said in a statement that ‘the UK Air Safety Committee has lifted the bans on Pakistani airlines after improvements in air safety.’
According to the High Commission, airlines will still have to obtain permission from the British Civil Aviation Authority for flights. The removal from the safety list was carried out under an independent and technical process.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott said, “I am grateful to the aviation experts in the UK and Pakistan for working together to meet international safety standards.”
She added, “The resumption of flights will take time. I look forward to flying with Pakistani Airlines to meet family and friends.”
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement that “the lifting of the restrictions on Pakistani flights by the UK is a source of satisfaction for Pakistanis living in the UK.”
The Prime Minister added that this positive development will enhance Pakistan’s reputation internationally and further promote Pakistan’s bilateral cooperation with the UK.
Initially, three flights will be operated weekly, PIA
PIA has said in a statement that it is committed to flying in the UK’s skies once again.
The statement further said that PIA is completing preparations to operate flights to the UK in the shortest possible time and the schedule is being finalized in this regard.
‘The official start of the British operation will be flights from Islamabad to Manchester. As soon as the schedule is approved, three flights will be operated weekly initially.’
PIA says that the lifting of the ban by the British Air Safety Committee has been possible due to strict adherence to international aviation safety standards, and the lifting of the British ban is a standard certificate of PIA’s air safety.
Removal from the air safety list is an important milestone, says Defense Minister Khawaja Asif
Federal Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said in a press conference that Pakistani airlines were banned during the PTI government, but a major milestone in history has been crossed during the Shahbaz Sharif government.
He said that former Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar criticized his own institution and invited institutions to ban Pakistan’s airline, in which Imran Khan is an equal partner.
Khawaja Asif said that the former aviation minister’s statement caused a loss of billions of rupees and the biggest loss was the damage to national prestige. The defense minister added that after being removed from the air safety list, they will now apply for an operating license. He said that along with the national airline, Pakistan’s private airlines like Air Blue have also been given permission.
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