ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has suspended domestic flights until the end of May, despite earlier plans to resume operations as lockdown restrictions are relaxing across the country.
"The suspension of domestic flight operations as effected earlier has been extended up to Friday, May 29, 2020 at 23:59 hours PST. Remaining provisions as applicable to the suspension of domestic flights reflected in the previous orders remain unchanged," Aviation Division spokesman Abdul Sattar Khokhar announced in a statement on Tuesday.
The decision comes as the country has started to ease coronavirus restrictions on businesses and reboot commercial activity.
Last week, the government announced that it would resume operations of domestic flights connecting the country’s four main airports — Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Quetta — following a meeting of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), after which Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said the decision would be made "on pubic demand."
Pakistan's domestic flights have been suspended since March 25.
Ban on international flights continues through May 15.
Pakistan further suspends domestic flights despite eased lockdown
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Pakistan further suspends domestic flights despite eased lockdown
- Domestic flights suspended until May 29 midnight
- Decision comes amid relaxation in lockdown across the country
Pakistan PM invites UAE investment across tech and resource sectors at National Day event
- Shehbaz Sharif says the UAE remains a key economic partner and continues to lend ‘critical support’ to Pakistan
- UAE envoy says both nations have potential for cooperation in renewable energy, AI and economic diversification
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to welcome investment from the United Arab Emirates across emerging technologies and resource sectors, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, as both countries marked the 54th National Day of the Gulf country in Islamabad.
Speaking at the ceremony attended by senior ministers, diplomats and business leaders, Sharif said the UAE remained a key economic partner for Pakistan and continued to lend “critical support” to the country’s stabilizing economy.
“Pakistan takes great pride in its strategic partnership with the UAE, which continues to deepen across every domain of life,” he said. “With Pakistan’s economy stabilizing, we stand ready to welcome Emirati investment in renewable energy, AI, fintech, agriculture and minerals.”
Sharif praised the UAE’s leadership and recalled his earliest memories of the Gulf nation as “a land that believed in possibilities long before they became realities,” saying the country’s progress under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan commanded “profound admiration.”
UAE Ambassador Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi said the Emirates was committed to strengthening ties with Pakistan in areas including the economy, energy and artificial intelligence.
He said the two countries shared a “deep-rooted friendship built on mutual respect, shared values and a common vision for regional peace and development.”
“We see tremendous potential for collaboration in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainability and economic diversification,” the ambassador said, adding that the UAE aimed to broaden the scope of its economic relations with Pakistan.
The UAE hosts around 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the country’s largest overseas communities, who Sharif said contributed “tirelessly” to the Gulf state’s development.
Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also joined the UAE ambassador in a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.
