Britain lifts ban on Pakistani airlines
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
7 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Meta to ban political ads in EU due to bloc's 'unworkable' rules
Meta on Friday said it will be forced to ban political advertising on its platforms in the European Union from October because of rules the Facebook and Instagram owner called "unworkable". The EU has a bolstered legal armoury to rein in Big Tech, against which Meta has hit out with the support of the US administration under President Donald Trump. "This is a difficult decision -- one we've taken in response to the EU's incoming Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation," the company said. Political, electoral and social issue advertising will no longer be allowed from October in the bloc, it said, because of "unworkable requirements" under the new rules. "Unfortunately, the TTPA introduces significant, additional obligations to our processes and systems that create an untenable level of complexity and legal uncertainty for advertisers and platforms operating in the EU," Meta added. The EU says its political advertising rules seek to increase transparency in online advertising after Facebook's Cambridge Analytica scandal, which came to light in 2018. Cambridge Analytica was a consulting firm that was found to have improperly accessed personal data from millions of Facebook users for targeted political advertising, particularly during the 2016 US election and Brexit referendum. The change is set to impact Meta's flagship platforms Facebook and Instagram, as well as WhatsApp -- which is largely ad-free but announced in June it would be introducing new advertising features in some parts of the app. Meta said it was "not the only company to have been forced into this position". Google last year announced it would also prevent political advertising in the EU from October 2025 because of the "significant new operational challenges and legal uncertainties". Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been highly critical of European rules, accusing Brussels in January of "censorship" and equating EU fines against the company to tariffs.
Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain's Derasat Joins Global Experts at Cambridge Gulf Research Meeting
Abdulla Mohamed Alahmed, Executive Director of Bahrain's Center for Strategic, International, and Energy Studies (Derasat), took part in the 15th edition of the Gulf Research Meeting hosted at the University of Cambridge in the UK. The annual gathering, organized by the Gulf Research Center, brought together global decision-makers, academics, and policy experts to discuss key issues shaping the Gulf region and its ties with the wider world. During his remarks, Alahmed emphasized the need to move beyond traditional partnerships and foster deeper engagement between Gulf countries and European societies. He highlighted the growing importance of trade diplomacy in today's international landscape, alongside military and security cooperation. Alahmed also underscored the need for a more integrated regional approach to Gulf security, especially in light of rising maritime threats in the Red Sea. He called for greater efforts in capacity building, conflict mediation, and early warning systems. He further proposed setting up structured dialogues that connect security with sustainable development, helping the region navigate today's fast-changing geopolitical realities. The meeting opened with keynote speeches from prominent figures including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud; GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi; Chairman of the Gulf Research Center Dr. Abdulaziz bin Sager; and EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio. The speakers all stressed the need to deepen political, economic, and security cooperation between the Gulf and Europe. This year's meeting featured 12 expert-led workshops, with Derasat researchers actively contributing to several of the discussions. Derasat's participation highlights Bahrain's commitment to contributing to global policy debates and reflects its growing role as a regional think tank working toward a more secure and interconnected Gulf future. The Gulf Research Meeting has been held annually since 2010 and serves as a leading platform for dialogue on the Gulf region's most pressing challenges and opportunities.
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Singapore Remains Most Powerful Passport as US and UK
Asian countries continue to lead global mobility, with Singapore holding its position as the world's most powerful passport, while the United States and United Kingdom experience long-term declines, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index released Tuesday. Singapore passport holders can travel visa-free or with visa on arrival to 193 destinations worldwide, the highest number of any passport. Japan and South Korea share second place with access to 190 destinations, reinforcing Asia's dominance in international travel freedom. The United Kingdom, which ranked first in 2015, has dropped to sixth place, offering visa-free access to 186 destinations. The United States has fallen to tenth place, with visa-free or visa on arrival access to 182 destinations. The index, compiled by Henley & Partners using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), highlights the declining mobility of traditional Western powers. 'The consolidation we're seeing at the top underscores that access is earned and must be maintained through active and strategic diplomacy,' said Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the index. 'Countries that neglect global engagement are losing ground.' Seven European Union countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — share third place, each providing visa-free access to 189 destinations. Another seven European nations — Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden — share fourth place with 188 destinations. Emerging economies are among the fastest risers. India has jumped eight places in six months to 77th, adding two new visa-free destinations to reach 59. Saudi Arabia gained four new visa waivers, rising four places to 54th, with access to 91 destinations. The United Arab Emirates continues its rapid ascent, ranking eighth globally — the highest position ever for a Gulf nation. Over the past decade, the UAE climbed 34 places, from 42nd to 8th, thanks to strategic diplomacy and reciprocal visa agreements. China has also risen 34 places over the past decade to 60th place, despite not yet gaining visa-free access to the European Schengen Area. Beijing has expanded visa-free access to 75 countries in 2025, up from fewer than 20 five years ago. This includes visa-free entry for all Gulf Cooperation Council countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – as well as several Latin American nations including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. These moves are part of China's broader strategy to strengthen bilateral ties and boost tourism and trade. These developments also influence the Henley Passport Power Index, which ranks passports based on the percentage of global GDP their holders can access visa-free. While over 80 countries have improved their rankings by at least 10 places over the past decade, only 16 countries have declined. Venezuela experienced the sharpest fall, dropping 15 places to 45th. The United States fell eight places, and the United Kingdom declined five. 'This is part of a broader reordering,' said Henley CEO Dr. Juerg Steffen, noting rising demand from Americans and British nationals for second citizenship and residency options. 'Your passport is no longer just a travel document – it reflects your country's global relationships,' Steffen said. 'As geopolitical uncertainty grows, citizens of historically dominant nations are reassessing their mobility options.' The Henley Passport Index, first published in 2006, is widely regarded as a leading benchmark for passport strength and international travel freedom, used by governments, investors, and migration experts. Also read: Singapore Leads With 230% Surge In Bahrain Passenger Numbers
