Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Saturday that efforts are being made to resume Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to and from the United Kingdom as soon as possible. The suspension of aviation services between the two countries has been ongoing for over four years.
Dar, who is currently visiting Britain, addressed the Pakistani diaspora and emphasized that significant steps have been taken to meet the latest requirements of the UK’s Aviation Authority to resolve the issue. “We have made every effort, even changed the laws as per the latest requirements of the Aviation Authority of the UK to solve the issue of resumption of PIA flights,” he stated.
PIA flights to Europe and the UK were suspended in 2020 after the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) revoked the national carrier’s authorization to fly to the bloc. This action followed a scandal involving fake pilot licenses in Pakistan, which led to the grounding of 262 of Pakistan’s 860 pilots, including 141 of PIA’s 434 pilots, whose licenses were deemed “dubious” by the then aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.
Deputy Prime Minister Dar attributed the suspension to an “irresponsible statement” by a minister from the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government, which resulted in the grounding of all Pakistani aircraft in Europe, the UK, and the Western world.
He also revealed that the government is taking two additional actions regarding the privatization of PIA and the outsourcing of Islamabad International Airport. These processes are moving forward on a fast track and are expected to be completed by mid-October.
Dar highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s long-standing partnership with the UK, noting that the real pivot of the bilateral relationship is the Pakistani diaspora. “Pakistan attaches high importance to the long-standing partnership with the UK and the real pivot of the bilateral relationship is the Pakistani diaspora,” he said.
In a press conference in London, Dar further elaborated that discussions on the resumption of PIA flight operations were held with British authorities, and talks with the European Union are also ongoing. “We are determined to comply with international standards in the aviation sector. All-out efforts are being made for the resumption of services,” he added.
Overseas Pakistanis’ Representation in Parliament on Agenda
During his UK visit, Dar emphasized the significance of Pakistan’s ties with Britain, especially after the formation of a new government in the country by the Labour Party. “Pakistan’s ties with Britain are crucial as 1.7 million Pakistanis are residing in the UK. They are our assets,” Dar said. He added that the government is making efforts to facilitate overseas Pakistanis and their representation in parliament is on its agenda.
Dar’s meetings with British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and other officials were described as positive, and he deemed the visit overall successful. He reiterated the importance of the Pakistani diaspora in strengthening bilateral relations and underscored the government’s commitment to addressing their concerns and ensuring their representation in legislative processes.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to the UK and the ongoing discussions with British and EU authorities mark a crucial step in efforts to restore PIA’s international flight operations and reinforce Pakistan’s aviation sector’s compliance with global standards.
