KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) completed its inaugural direct flight from Lahore to Baku on Sunday, a development Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described as a “major diplomatic success” and a step toward deepening ties with regional allies.
The new air link is part of Islamabad’s broader strategy to strengthen economic, tourism and diplomatic ties with Central Asian countries. Pakistan has been pushing to expand trade routes and people-to-people connectivity to boost its economy through enhanced trade, tourism and investment.
“This is a major diplomatic success for Pakistan,” Sharif said in a statement issued by his office after the flight arrived in Baku. “Azerbaijan is among our closest friends in the region, and we are striving to build partnerships with it across sectors, including tourism.”
Flight PK-159 departed Lahore at 11:50 AM with 152 passengers and landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, where it received a warm welcome.
Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Qasim Moinuddin, Airport Director Taimur Hassan and Azerbaijan’s Transport Minister Rashad Nabi greeted passengers on arrival.
The flight was celebrated onboard with a cake-cutting ceremony. Passengers received gift packs and mobile phones through a lucky draw. PIA’s return flight, PK-160, later departed from Baku for Lahore.
A formal send-off ceremony was held in Lahore earlier in the day, attended by Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov.
“PIA is expanding its network, and Baku is an important addition to this chain,” Asif said. “This flight will significantly strengthen relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.”
Sharif said similar air links with other friendly countries would follow soon, as part of Pakistan’s plan to strengthen regional integration.
“The launch of direct PIA flights between Lahore and Baku will help promote tourism,” the prime minister said. “We will soon begin similar direct flights with other friendly nations.”
Pakistan PM hails first Lahore-Baku flight as ‘diplomatic success’
https://arab.news/6bgmp
Pakistan PM hails first Lahore-Baku flight as ‘diplomatic success’
- Shehbaz Sharif says the new air link will help promote tourism between the two countries
- The flight carrying 152 passengers was warmly received by Azerbaijan’s transport minister
Pakistan to hold first anti-polio nationwide campaign of 2026 from Feb. 2
- Pakistan to target over 45 million children in first national anti-polio campaign of this year
- Natural disasters, security issues have disrupted anti-polio vaccination campaigns in the past
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will conduct its first nationwide anti-polio drive of the new year from Feb. 2, the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) said on Wednesday, vowing to vaccinate over 45 million children against the disease.
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries where transmission of the wild poliovirus has never been interrupted, posing a risk to global eradication efforts. The virus, which can cause irreversible paralysis, has no cure and can only be prevented through repeated oral vaccination.
The NEOC said it conducted six nationwide campaigns against poliovirus last year, adding that they resulted in a “significant” reduction in cases from 74 in 2024 to 30 in 2025.
“The first national polio campaign of 2026 will be conducted across the country from Feb. 2,” the NEOC said in a statement.
“During the campaign, over 45 million children will be administered polio drops.”
The NEOC said involvement of communities, religious leaders and the media has increased the public’s confidence in the government’s polio program.
“Strong government leadership and effective institutional collaboration continue to play a key role in polio eradication,” it said.
The authority urged parents to cooperate with polio teams and ensure their children receive polio drops.
Health officials say insecurity remains a major obstacle. Polio workers and their security escorts have repeatedly been targeted in militant attacks, particularly in parts of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces, complicating efforts to reach every child.
A gun attack targeting a polio vaccination team in Pakistan’s northwestern Bajaur district last month left one police constable and a civilian dead.
Natural disasters, including flooding, have also disrupted vaccination campaigns in recent years.
