WEBDESK: Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif held a press conference on Wednesday where he made important statements about Pakistan’s aviation sector.
He welcomed the UK’s decision to remove Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from its air safety list, calling it a “major milestone.” He confirmed that both PIA and a private airline have now been taken off the list, which clears the way for direct flights to the UK. “We are going to privatise PIA,” Khawaja Asif said, adding that this decision will help improve the airline and attract investment.
He also said, “We are trying to resume flights to New York as well,” in a move aimed at restoring Pakistan’s global air connections.
Khawaja Asif strongly criticised former Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan of the PTI government. He said Sarwar’s “irresponsible statement caused irreparable damage” to Pakistan’s image and aviation industry. “PTI’s Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar committed a national crime by getting PIA banned,” he said.
He claimed that the PTI leadership, including Imran Khan, had turned PIA into a “wreck.” He blamed Ghulam Sarwar for billions of rupees in losses and stressed that such people should be held accountable.
The minister added that overseas Pakistanis suffered greatly when PIA was banned from flying to Europe. He said the lifting of the ban would now benefit the privatisation process.
Khawaja Asif said the current government has worked hard through strong diplomatic efforts to restore confidence in Pakistan’s aviation sector.
The United Kingdom has formally taken Pakistan off its Air Safety List, which has opened the doors to Pakistani airlines to fly to the UK directly once again after over three years.
That ruling is a result of Pakistan making great strides in its aviation industry, which the UK Department of Transport announced on Wednesday. The UK’s Air Safety Committee, an independent body operating on technical grounds, confirmed that Pakistani carriers now meet international safety standards.
With this decision, all Pakistani airlines are now eligible to apply for flight permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. However, each airline must secure individual approval before launching operations.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, welcomed the development and praised the efforts of aviation professionals in both countries.
“I’m grateful to aviation experts in the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative work to drive improvements to meet international safety standards. While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends,” said British High Commissioner Jane Marriott.
