‘Much progress’ made on PIA flights, Dar says after raising issue during UK visit

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said “much progress” has been made to resume Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) flights to and from the United Kingdom, where he is on an official visit this week.

In 2020, the revelation of pilots holding “dubious” licences prompted the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority to withdraw PIA’s permit to operate from three of its airports. The European Union had also suspended PIA’s flights in the same year.

Last month, Privatisation Commission Secretary Usman Akhtar Bajwa told the Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation that the process of privatising PIA would be completed by October 1.

Addressing a press conference with Pakistani High Commissioner Dr Mohammad Faisal in London, Dar expressed the hope that PIA operations will resume in the UK, stating that he raised the issue in a meeting with British Deputy PM Angela Rayner.

“I raised PIA in my meeting with Angela Rayner. It is unfortunate how the previous govt (the PTI) handled PIA; we have made much progress in that area.

“My visit was potentially very useful for Pakistan,” Dar asserted.

We have made every effort, even we changed the laws as per the latest requirements of the Aviation Authority of UK to solve the issue of resumption of PIA flights,” the deputy prime minister said.

Dar said the government was taking action to privatise PIA and outsource Islamabad International Airport. He said that the process was moving on the fast track, expressing faith that it would be completed by October 10.

Speaking about the Pakistani diaspora in the UK, he said, “I believe that the British Pakistanis have proved to be the most articulate, the most diverse and the most effective and vibrant who are contributing not only to the development of the host country but also that of Pakistan.”

The foreign minister blamed the PTI administration for PIA’s suspension, asserting that an irresponsible statement by the then-aviation minister grounded the aircraft.

“We are hopeful that the deputy prime minister (Angela Rayner) will help because this is a major issue for our diaspora,” he said. Dar added: “In a recent meeting on August 24, we met with EU aviation officials and presented our case.”

He also highlighted how the British Pakistani community is one of the most politically active among overseas communities in the UK. “We have two cabinet members, 15 members in the House of Commons, 11 in the House of Lords and hundreds of councillors, and mayors and deputy mayors.”