PM Imran Khan directs CAA to resume flight operations to bring back stranded passengers
Pakistan closed its airspace around 12.30pm on Wednesday due to tensions with India.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed authorities to bring stranded passengers back to Pakistan after passage of more than 48 hours of suspension of airspace amid spiking tension with neighbouring India, Pakistan on Saturday.
In this regard, holidays of operational staff of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) have been suspended and commercial flight operations at Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta airports have been resumed, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
However, the CAA has decided to keep Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore closed till March 4 in view of the prevailing security situation.
The facilities have been made available for international and domestic routes at these airports while other airports — including Sial-kot, and Multan, and Gilgit Baltistan — are slated to be reopened for flight operations soon.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshal Ashad Malik is supervising the resumption of flight operations.
Moreover, all international flights, which were being redirected to take longer routes by not crossing over the airspace of Pakistan, have been permitted and informed to resume their operations normally from 4pm onwards on Saturday.
According to source, India has also resumed flight operations at the airports in the northern region.
Moreover, the CAA has directed its staff to ensure maximum presence.
“It is expected that there will be a backlog of passengers,” said the circular. “To smoothly manage operations, the management would require the presence of the staff and officers.”
Pakistan closed its airspace around 12.30pm on Wednesday due to the prevailing security situation with India, leaving thousands of air travellers affected due to the cancellation of their flights.
