KARACHI: A European airline plans to launch direct flights between Italy and Pakistan, confirmed a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official on Tuesday night, adding the two sides were in conversation to discuss the initiative at length.
Pakistan’s aviation sector has faced multiple challenges since May 2020 when a crash of a commercial airliner in Karachi led to increased scrutiny of its safety protocols. The incident also led to a major scandal when a senior minister said during a speech in parliament that a significant number of pilots in the country had obtained dubious or fraudulent licenses, leading to global concerns and restrictions.
Pakistan’s national flag carrier, PIA, has struggled with financial instability after its flights were banned in European countries in the wake of these developments.
Recently, the local media reported that a private Italian airline, Neos, was interested in initiating flights between the two countries.
“The request by the airline Neos to be designated is with the Ministry of Aviation,” Saif Ullah, CAA spokesperson, briefly told Arab News while confirming the European airline’s interest to operate flights between the two states.
He did not share any further details related to the request.
Faced with a major liquidity crunch, Pakistan’s own airlines sought Rs23 billion ($76 million) from the government last month to manage its operational expenses.
However, the government refused to provide cash assistance to the state-owned entity amid an ongoing economic downturn in the country, instructing relevant officials to prepare a restructuring plan to improve PIA’s financial situation.
PIA also confirmed it had grounded 14 out of 31 aircraft to deal with the financial turmoil.
Aviation Authority says Neos airline interested in launching direct Italy-Pakistan flights
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Aviation Authority says Neos airline interested in launching direct Italy-Pakistan flights
- Pakistan’s aviation sector has faced multiple challenges following the May 2020 crash of a commercial airliner in Karachi
- Pakistan’s aviation ministry is considering the request by Italy’s Neos, as PIA continues to faces a major cash crunch
Pakistan opposition rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to demand release of Imran Khan
- PTI-led gathering calls the former PM a national hero and demands the release of all political prisoners
- Government says the opposition failed to draw a large crowd and accuses PTI of damaging its own politics
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party demanded the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan at a rally in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, describing him as a national hero who continues to command public support.
The gathering came days after a rare and strongly worded briefing by the military’s media chief, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who dismissed Khan as “narcissistic” and “mentally ill” on Friday while responding to the former premier’s allegations that Pakistan’s chief of defense forces was responsible for undermining the constitution and rule of law.
He said that Khan was promoting an anti-state narrative which had become a national security threat.
The participants of the rally called for “civilian supremacy” and said elected representatives should be treated with respect.
“We, the people of Pakistan, regard Imran Khan as a national hero and the country’s genuinely elected prime minister, chosen by the public in the February 8, 2024 vote,” said a resolution presented at the rally in Peshawar. “We categorically reject and strongly condemn the notion that he or his colleagues pose any kind of threat to national security.”
“We demand immediate justice for Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and all political prisoners, and call for their prompt release,” it added, referring to Khan’s wife who is also in prison. “No restrictions should be placed on Imran Khan’s meetings with his family, lawyers or political associates.”
Addressing the gathering, Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, denied his administration was not serious about security issues amid increased militant activity. However, he maintained the people of his province had endured the worst of Pakistan’s conflict with militancy and urged a rethinking of long-running security policies.
The resolution asked the federal government to restore bilateral trade and diplomatic channels with Afghanistan, saying improved cross-border ties were essential for the economic stability of the region.
The trade between the two neighbors has suffered as Pakistan accuses the Taliban administration in Kabul of sheltering and facilitating armed groups that it says launch cross-border attacks to target its civilians and security forces. Afghan officials deny the claim.
The two countries have also had deadly border clashes in recent months that have killed dozens of people on both sides.
Some participants of the rally emphasized the restoration of democratic freedoms, judicial independence and space for political reconciliation, calling them necessary to stabilize the country after years of political confrontation.
Reacting to the opposition rally, Information Minister Attaullah Tarrar said the PTI and its allies could not gather enough people.
“In trying to build an anti-army narrative, they have ruined their own politics,” he said, adding that the rally’s reaction to the military’s media chief’s statement reflected “how deeply it had stung.”
“There was neither any argument nor any real response,” he added, referring to what was said by the participants of the rally.
