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state run Pakistan International Airlines Flights to the United Kingdom resumed on Saturday for the first time in five years after restrictions imposed over the fake pilot license scandal were lifted.
The airline faced sanctions from both the UK and European Union After a fatal accident in June 2020 karachi In which about 100 people were killed, and after that there were revelations of pilots with fake licenses.
The European ban was lifted in November 2024 after a comprehensive safety audit, paving the way for PIA to reinstate the routes it had suspended in January this year.
First Boeing 777 flight from islamabad PIA returned to Manchester on Saturday after months of inspections and reforms, restoring Britain’s confidence in Pakistan’s aviation system.
“The flight to Manchester is a remarkable start, but we are determined to introduce further flights to London and Birmingham.” Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said this at a ceremony organized at Islamabad International Airport.
Asif said in a televised address that the flights were essential for more than 1.4 million Pakistanis in Britain and Europe, and added that the remittances they sent were the backbone of Pakistan’s economy.
“It is both a moral and national duty to provide them with direct flights,” he said. “These services will save their time, provide reasonable fares and provide direct air connectivity to their homeland.”
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Britain Mohammad Faisal described the re-launch as a major step for economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
“This milestone will bring huge economic benefits; generate substantial revenues, boost trade and tourism and expand the movement of people and goods,” he said at a recent event in London.