ISLAMABAD: Emirates, the largest airline and the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, said on Wednesday flights from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had been suspended until August 7 in line with the government’s orders.
The UAE is home to 1.5 million Pakistanis and ranked one of Pakistan’s top contributors, alongside Saudi Arabia, of foreign remittances. Flights to Pakistan from the Emirates have been disrupted for months now due to the coronavirus pandemic. The date for resumption of travel has also been extended several times now.
“In line with UAE government directives, Emirates will be suspending the carriage of passengers from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to Dubai until 07 August 2021,” the airline said on its website. “Furthermore, passengers who have connected through India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka in the last 14 days will not be accepted to travel from any other point to the UAE.”
UAE Nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with updated COVID‑19 protocols, are exempt and may be accepted for travel, the airline said.
It advised travelers that if their flight had been canceled or impacted by route suspensions due to COVID‑19 restrictions, “you don’t need to call us immediately for rebooking. You can simply hold on to your Emirates ticket and when flights resume, get in touch with us or your booking office to make new travel plans.”
UAE suspends flights from Pakistan, India until August 7
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UAE suspends flights from Pakistan, India until August 7
- Flights to Pakistan from the UAE have been suspended for months now due to the coronavirus pandemic
- UAE is home to 1.5 million Pakistanis and ranked one of Pakistan’s top contributors of foreign remittances
If India doesn’t want handshakes, Pakistan has no desire for it either— PCB
- Indian cricketers have refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts in recent matches
- Pakistan’s senior men’s cricket team willl next face India on Feb. 15 in T20 World Cup group clash
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently criticized the Indian cricket team’s “no-handshake” policy, saying Pakistani cricketers will also refrain from the friendly gesture if it persists.
The Indian cricket team has refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts in recent matches between the two sides. This policy made headlines worldwide in September when the two sides met for the Asia Cup 2025 in three cricket matches, with the Indian team refusing to shake hands with Pakistani team members each time.
India’s new policy to not shake hands with Pakistani cricketers took place months after the two nuclear-armed neighbors clashed in a four-day military conflict in May. Washington eventually intervened and brokered a ceasefire on May 10 after four days of conflict.
“If they do not want to do handshakes, then we also have no desire for it either,” Naqvi told reporters at a press conference on Sunday.
The PCB chairman, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister, said cricket matters related to India will be decided on an “equal footing.”
“It won’t happen that they do one thing and we beg them in return,” Naqvi said. “This won’t happen.”
Pakistan’s Under-19 squad this month defeated India in a one-sided final for the U-19 Asia Cup tournament in Dubai.
Pakistan’s senior men’s cricket team is set to face India in Sri Lanka on Feb. 15 in a group stage clash for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
