KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), on Monday got permission from the United Kingdom to operate two additional flights to Britain ahead of April 09 when it will ban entry of people arriving from four countries, including Pakistan.
From 4 a.m. on April 9, Pakistan, Kenya, the Philippines and Bangladesh will be put on a red list, the UK government said on Friday, joining about three dozen other nations mainly in Africa, the Middle East and South America.
“The first additional flight will depart from Islamabad to Manchester on April 7 at 2.30 pm,” PIA said in a statement. "All passengers who have not yet been able to get tickets should contact PIA offices immediately. PIA booking offices will be open till 10 pm tonight (Monday).”
On Monday, a PIA spokesperson told Arab News the airline had requested the UK government to allow four additional flights to Britain ahead of April 09.
“People are desperately trying to go back to the UK before April 9, we have requested four additional flights to the UK, and we sincerely hope that we will get permission by today or tomorrow,” PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said.
“By now we have operated three flights and we have transported nearly 900 passengers [to the UK],” Khan said, adding that PIA planned to operate four more flights to the UK until April 7. “We are hopeful to accommodate 1,000 more passengers.”
He said PIA would be able to take another 1,000 passengers to the UK if its government allowed the four additional flights.
British Pakistanis form one of the largest expat communities in the UK. Days before the start of Ramadan, when many British Pakistanis travel to be with their families for the holy month and Eid, travelers from Pakistan have been told they will be denied entry and have to pay for expensive 10-day UK hotel quarantine at designated sites.
Pakistan’s planning minister, Asad Umar, last week said the UK government’s decision to ban the entry of Pakistanis was based on politics, not science.
“Every country has a right to take decisions to safeguard the health of their citizens,” Umar said. “However, the recent decision by UK government to add some countries including Pakistan on the red list raises legitimate questions whether choice of countries is based on science or foreign policy.”
PIA allowed two additional flights to UK ahead of April 9 travel ban
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PIA allowed two additional flights to UK ahead of April 9 travel ban
- First additional flight will depart from Islamabad to Manchester on April 7 at 2.30 pm, PIA says
- Pakistan, Kenya, Philippines and Bangladesh put on red list, join three dozen other nations in Africa, Middle East and South America
Pakistan PM to attend World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland next month
- The WEF meeting, scheduled to be held in Davos on Jan. 19-23, will focus on global challenges, public-private dialogue and cooperation
- Government, business, civil society and academia leaders will engage in forward-looking discussions to address these issues, set priorities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Switzerland next month to attend the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistani state media reported on Monday.
The WEF annual meeting, themed as ‘A Spirit of Dialogue,’ will be held from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23 in Davos, where world leaders from government, business, civil society and academia will engage in forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities.
Prime Minister Sharif is expected to interact with global leaders and investors on economic challenges, regional and international issues and various opportunities for cooperation.
On Monday, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar presided over a meeting in Islamabad to oversee preparations for Sharif’s upcoming visit to Switzerland to attend the WEF meeting, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Dar instructed to maximize the engagements with the incoming Heads of States, Governments and senior leadership of economic, business and financial institutions,” the report read.
The WEF meeting program will be structured around key global challenges where public-private dialogue and cooperation, involving all stakeholders, is necessary for progress, according to the WEF website.
In addressing these challenges, growth, resilience and innovation will serve as cross-cutting imperatives, guiding how leaders engage with today’s complexity and pursue tomorrow’s opportunities.
Pakistani foreign ministry officials briefed the deputy PM about preparations for the WEF meeting, according to Radio Pakistan. The participants of Monday’s meeting in Islamabad discussed in detail the bilateral component and media engagements during the visit.
“He [Dar] further stressed that opportunities be explored to foster collaboration with private sector business entities,” the state broadcaster said.
