ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Egypt agreed on Saturday to enhance their political, defense, cultural and economic relations, as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on the sidelines of a special Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference on Palestine, according to Pakistan’s foreign office.
In recent years, the two nations have strengthened bilateral ties through various initiatives, including the annual bilateral consultations focusing on cooperation in trade, investment and cultural exchanges.
In November 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the COP27 climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, seeking climate compensation and debt relief following Pakistan’s devastating 2022 floods.
In their meeting, Dar and Abdelatty expressed satisfaction with the trajectory of both countries’ relations.
“They praised the enduring and multifaceted relationship between the two nations, which is founded on shared beliefs, values, and cultural connections,” the foreign office said. “They agreed to further strengthen their political, defense, cultural and economic ties, as well as enhance people-to-people interactions.”
Both officials also shared perspectives on regional and global issues of common concern, voicing deep alarm regarding ongoing Israeli violence in the West Bank and the situation in Gaza.
Dar acknowledged Egypt’s crucial role in providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians and its efforts to mediate a temporary ceasefire.
The two officials reaffirmed their opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians, agreeing that a lasting resolution lies in the creation of a viable Palestinian state based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Dar also invited Abdelatty to visit Pakistan at mutually convenient dates.
He also also conferred with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, discussing challenges facing the Muslim world and commending the OIC’s role in unifying the Ummah.
The deputy prime minister also met with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and advocating for a viable Palestinian state.
Pakistan and Egypt agree to strengthen ties in politics, defense and trade at OIC meeting
https://arab.news/ramr4
Pakistan and Egypt agree to strengthen ties in politics, defense and trade at OIC meeting
- Pakistan’s deputy PM and Egyptian foreign minister discuss greater people-to-people interactions
- Ishaq Dar also holds meetings with the OIC secretary general and Palestinian foreign minister in Jeddah
Pakistan’s PIA to resume London flights from Mar. 29 after six-year gap
- Newly privatized airline says will operate four weekly flights from Islamabad to London
- PIA is already operating three fllights per week to British city Manchester, says airline
ISLAMABAD: The newly privatized Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will operate direct flights to London starting Mar. 29, 2026, after six years, its spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
The PIA resumed its flight operations to the UK in October this year with its inaugural flight to Manchester. The airline is currently operating three weekly flights to the British city.
Britain lifted restrictions on Pakistani carriers in July, nearly half a decade after grounding them following a 2020 PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi that killed 97 people. The disaster was followed by claims of irregularities in pilot licensing, which led to bans in the US, UK and the European Union.
“Pakistan International Airlines has announced the expansion of its operations in the United Kingdom with the resumption of flights to London,” the airline’s spokesperson said in a statement.
“Starting Mar. 29, PIA will operate four weekly flights from Islamabad to London.”
The airline said that the London flights will be operated from Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4, which it said is recognized as one of its most modern terminals.
“London was PIA’s very first international destination and remains one of its most important and attractive routes,” the spokesperson said.
Pakistan’s government succeeded in its frequent efforts to privatize the airline this month after a consortium, led by Arif Habib Group, on Dec. 23 secured a 75 percent stake in PIA for Rs135 billion ($482 million) after several rounds of bidding, valuing the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
The sale marked Pakistan’s most aggressive attempt in decades to reform the debt-ridden national airline, which had accumulated more than $2.8 billion in financial losses. The government said it would end decades of state-funded bailouts and help revive the airline.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News this week, the airline’s new owner Arif Habib said he plans to renovate PIA planes, improve maintenance and flight schedule, and bring in new aircraft to revive the carrier.
Habib said he sees the region comprising the UK, the US and Canada as a “lucrative market” for the airline’s business.
“There we can increase the frequency of the flight,” he said. “We will also try to run flights to Canada from Karachi, Lahore, and I think it’s already in Islamabad.”
