Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) decision to lift the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe. In a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, he congratulated Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the aviation ministry, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), and PIA’s management for their combined efforts to achieve this significant milestone.
Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that lifting the ban will elevate PIA’s global reputation and bring substantial financial benefits to Pakistan. He also noted that the decision would make air travel more convenient for Pakistanis residing in Europe. The move reflects the success of Pakistan’s aviation policies, further boosting the country’s aviation industry.
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The ban, which had been in place for over four years, was originally imposed on June 30, 2020, after a PIA plane crash in Karachi led to the discovery that licenses of 262 Pakistani pilots were fake. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) imposed a temporary six-month suspension on all Pakistani airlines, but it was not lifted after the six-month period. The extended ban caused PIA losses of approximately Rs400 billion and impacted other Pakistani airlines by around Rs50 billion.
Following the recent three-day meeting of the European Air Safety Committee in Brussels from November 19-21, the European Commission reviewed the safety measures implemented by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). With positive developments in this regard, EASA is expected to make its final announcement on December 6, formally allowing Pakistani airlines to resume operations to European destinations.
