LAHORE, Feb 6: Urging Pakistani businessmen to build stronger contacts with the UK firms, a British trade official on Thursday said the British Airways would start its operations from Lahore as soon as the conditions normalise (in the country).

Speaking to the executive committee of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), senior British officer Roger Skys said his country respected Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism and would continue to assist it in its effort to eliminate poverty from society.

He said the two countries would come further closer as soon as things improve here in Pakistan. He said his country had not discontinued its educational and training programmes in Pakistan despite difficult conditions.