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
Pakistani, Bangladeshi officials discuss trade, investment and aviation as ties thaw
- Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war
- Ties between Pakistan, Bangladesh have warmed up since last year and both nations have resumed sea trade
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider on Sunday met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, the latter's office said on, with the two figures discussing trade, investment and aviation.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as a result of a student-led uprising in August 2024. Relations remain frosty between Dhaka and New Delhi over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina.
Pakistan has attempted to forge closer ties with Bangladesh in recent months and both South Asian nations last year began sea trade, followed by efforts to expand government-to-government commerce.
"During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and aviation as well as scaling up cultural, educational and medical exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations," Yunus's office said in a statement on X.
In 2023-24 Pakistan exported goods worth $661 million to Bangladesh, while its imports were only $57 million, according to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. In Aug. this year, the Pakistani and Bangladeshi commerce ministries signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Joint Working Group on Trade, aiming to raise their bilateral trade volume to $1 billion in the financial year that began in July.
The Pakistani high commissioner noted that bilateral trade has recorded a 20 percent growth compared to last year, with business communities from both countries actively exploring new investment opportunities, according to the statement.
He highlighted a significant increase in cultural exchanges, adding that Bangladeshi students have shown strong interest in higher education opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in medical sciences, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Haider also said that Dhaka-Karachi direct flights are expected to start in January.
"Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus welcomed the growing interactions between the two countries and emphasized the importance of increased visits as well as cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges among SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) member states," the statement read.
"Professor Yunus also underscored the need to further boost Bangladesh–Pakistan trade and expressed hope that during Mr. Haider’s tenure, both countries would explore new avenues for investment and joint venture businesses."
