Saudi Arabia permits PIA to operate two new flights to Al-Qassim 

Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) aeroplanes taxi on a runway at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on March 6, 2007. (AFP/File)
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Updated 05 November 2020
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Saudi Arabia permits PIA to operate two new flights to Al-Qassim 

  • With the new route from Multan, PIA will be operating 42 weekly flights to Saudi Arabia
  • Al-Qassim will be PIA’s fifth destination in the kingdom as it already flies to Madinah, Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has permitted Pakistan’s national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), to operate two new weekly flights to Al-Qassim province, the kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The flights between the northern Saudi region and Pakistan’s Multan will start on Nov. 19. 

Al-Qassim will be PIA’s fifth destination in Saudi Arabia and “will be a convenient location for Pakistani expatriates residing in the northern parts of the kingdom,” GACA said.

The announcement comes days after Pakistani Ambassador Raja Ali Ejaz’s meeting with GACA president Abdulhadi Al-Mansouri, during which they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the aviation sector and possibilities for PIA’s expansion in the kingdom. 
 Al-Qassim is located approximately 400 kilometers northwest of Riyadh. Prince Nayef Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Buraidah serves as the region’s international airport.

With the new destination, PIA will be operating 42 weekly flights to Saudi Arabia. It already flies to Madinah, Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said last week that demand for Saudi flights is rising as “more and more Pakistani nationals wanted to travel to the kingdom,” especially for employment opportunities. 
 


Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military

Updated 02 February 2026
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Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military

  • Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is a 43-member alliance that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE and other nations
  • The Pakistani military statement comes after a meeting between IMCTC secretary-general and the chief of Pakistani defense forces in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, including intelligence sharing and capacity building, to jointly combat “terrorism” and “extremism,” the Pakistani military said on Monday.

The IMCTC is a 43-member military alliance that was formed on Saudi Arabia’s initiative in Dec. 2015 to consolidate Muslim countries’ efforts in countering “terrorism.”

A 17-member IMCTC delegation is visiting Pakistan from Feb. 2-6 to conduct a training at National University of Sciences and Technology on “Re-integration and Rehabilitation of Extremist Elements,” according to the Pakistani military.

On Monday, IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi held a meeting with Chief of Pakistani Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss cooperation among IMCTC member states.

“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed, with particular emphasis on regional security dynamics and enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said in a statement.

“Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism and extremism through collaborative strategies, intelligence sharing, and capacity building among member states.”

The IMCTC features Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine, UAE, Bangladesh and other nations. In 2017, Pakistan’s former army chief Gen. (retd) Raheel Sharif was appointed as the IMCTC commander-in-chief.

During discussions with Major General Al-Moghedi, Field Marshal Munir appreciated the role of IMCTC in fostering stability and promoting coordinated counterterrorism initiatives across the Islamic world, according to the ISPR.

The IMCTC secretary-general acknowledged Pakistan’s significant contributions and sacrifices in the fight against militancy and lauded the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces.

“The meeting underscored the resolve of both sides to further strengthen institutional collaboration for peace, stability, and security in the region,” the ISPR added.

Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with most Muslim countries around the world, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council countries. In Sept. 2025, Pakistan signed a landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia according to which an act of aggression against one country will be treated as an act of aggression against both.