Britain lifts ban on Pakistani airlines - International
Flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines was barred from flying to Britain in June 2020, a month after one of its aircraft plunged into a Karachi street, killing nearly 100 people.
The disaster was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control, and was followed by allegations that nearly a third of the licences for its pilots were fake or dubious.
The UK Air Safety Committee had decided to lift the ban following aviation safety improvements in Pakistan, the British High Commission in Islamabad said, adding that decisions on de-listing states and air carriers were made "through an independent aviation safety process".
"Based on this independent and technically-driven process, it has decided to remove Pakistan and its air carriers from the (UK Air Safety) List," it said in a statement.
The move comes after European regulators lifted a four-year ban on PIA, with the Pakistani state-owned carrier resuming flights to Europe in January.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the lifting of the ban as "an important milestone for the country".
"The lifting of the ban on Pakistani flights by the UK is a source of relief for Pakistanis residing in Britain," he added in a statement.
PIA said it would resume services to Britain in "the shortest possible time" with the first flights operating from Islamabad to Manchester.
Aviation minister Khawaja Asif acknowledged the ban had caused losses.
"Confidence is being restored in Pakistani airlines once again," he said at a news conference in Islamabad.
PIA, which employs 7,000 people, has long been accused of being bloated and poorly run -- hobbled by unpaid bills, a poor safety record and regulatory issues.
Pakistan's government has said it is committed to privatising the debt-ridden airline and has been scrambling to find a buyer.
In 2024, a deal fell through after a potential buyer reportedly offered a fraction of the asking price.
PIA came into being in 1955 when the government nationalised a loss-making commercial airline, and enjoyed rapid growth until the 1990s.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Isak told to train alone by Newcastle: reports - World
Alexander Isak's future at Newcastle hangs in the balance after the Swedish striker was reportedly told to train apart from the rest of the squad on Wednesday. The 25-year-old has been linked with a British transfer record move to Liverpool after failing to feature in Newcastle's pre-season preparations. Isak missed the Magpies' trip to Singapore and South Korea, citing a minor thigh injury, and instead flew to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad. He has since returned to Tyneside but Sky Sports reported that Isak was instructed to train after the rest of the squad had departed on Wednesday. "You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United," Howe told reporters earlier in pre-season. "We will make sure that any player earns the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal." Liverpool have seen a £110 million ($146 million) bid for Isak rejected, according to reports, with Newcastle seeking closer to £150 million. Another major hurdle to any deal is Newcastle's ongoing struggles to finalise a deal to replace Isak. They face competition from Manchester United for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko after missing out on Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Liam Delap earlier in the window. Liverpool have already splashed out over £250 million this window on Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong. However, they have also recouped major funds from the sales of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tyler Morton. And Darwin Nunez is close to a £46 million move to Saudi side Al Hilal that would free up more resources and space in the squad for another bid to sign Isak. Since joining Newcastle for £63 million in 2022, Isak has scored 62 times in 109 appearances, including the goal that secured the club's first domestic trophy for 70 years in the League Cup final against Liverpool in March. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Middle East
5 hours ago
- Middle East
OPEN// FM says Egypt has great interest in power interconnection with Greece
CAIRO, Aug 6 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty said Egypt has a great interest in the GREGY electricity interconnection project between Egypt and Greece. He said the GREGY electricity interconnection project is an ambitious project that will enable the transfer of clean electrical energy for the first time from Egypt to Greece, and onward to other European countries, a move which will contribute to enhancing Europe's energy security and reflect the strength of the strategic partnership between Egypt and Greece. The top diplomat made the remarks during a meeting in Athens with Dimitrios Copelouzos, the founder, owner, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Copelouzos Group, which is responsible for implementing the electricity interconnection project between Egypt and Greece. Abdelatty highlighted ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy in this regard, affirming Egypt's full support for the project. He was briefed by the Greek official on the latest implementation developments of the project. He expressed his hope to see the Copelouzos Group expand its activities in the Egyptian market across various sectors, highlighting the investment incentives and advantages offered by the Egyptian government to attract foreign investment in the implementation of the state policy in this respect. (MENA) A I E/S R E
Al-Ahram Weekly
8 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UK watchdog bans Zara ads over 'unhealthily thin' model photos - Style - Life & Style
Britain's advertising regulator on Wednesday banned two adverts by Spanish clothing group Zara for featuring models that appeared 'unhealthily thin', calling the images 'irresponsible'. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it took action after it received a complaint about the ads, which were listed on Zara's website in May. One image showed a model with 'protruding' collarbones, with her pose and styling making her appear 'very slim'. Another featured a model who looked 'slightly gaunt' owing to a slicked-back hairstyle and that the lighting and clothing made her appear 'noticeably thin', the ASA said. The watchdog ruled the ads breached social responsibility rules and must not appear again in the same form. Zara told the ASA that the models were medically certified as healthy, in line with British guidelines. It also assured that only minor lighting and colouring edits were made on the images. The ads were removed after the ASA made the company aware of the complaint, Zara said in a statement. It added that Zara 'follow stringent guidelines and controls in the selection and photographing of models'. Earlier this year, the ASA banned similar ads from British retailers Next and Marks & Spencer. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
