Islamabad: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif ha said Alhamdulillah! PIA returns to UK skies.
In a statement issued on X on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that he is grateful to Allah Almighty as Pakistan stands vindicated with the restoration of our airlines operations to the United Kingdom.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the reckless and irresponsible statements made by PTI members caused irreparable reputational damage to Pakistan, grounding our national carrier for years, from key global routes, including the UK and Europe.
'With over 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK and thousands of British nationals in Pakistan, today's announcement brings long-awaited relief and new opportunities for families and friends to reunite. As Pakistan's third-largest trading partner, this ease in travel between the UK and Pakistan will help this vital trade relationship grow manifold' PM Shehbaz Sharif said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said special appreciation for the Deputy Prime Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the entire Aviation team, and all other stakeholders, for their tireless efforts in this regard. Job well done!, he said.
Meanwhile Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has described the removal of Pakistan's name from the British Air Safety List (ASL) as an important milestone.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said the lifting of the ban reflects confidence in Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority's compliance with international safety standards.
The Defence Minister said an irresponsible statement made by the Aviation Minister during the PTI government led to the imposition of a ban on PIA's operations in European countries and Britain. He noted that this resulted in losses of billions of rupees for the national flag carrier and hurt the national image.
Khawaja Asif thanked the European and British aviation regulators for their guidance and support in helping Pakistan address safety concerns and meet required standards.
He said the next phase is the privatization of PIA, expressing confidence that the lifting of the ban on flight operations to the UK and Europe will help maximize the proceeds from the airline's privatization.