RAWALPINDI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to temporarily suspend flight operations to and from Qatar in an effort to prevent spread of coronavirus, following Qatar government’s travel entry ban for different nationalities, including Pakistan.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said in a press release that the national carrier had suspended its flight operation to and from Qatar till March 31.

PIA has offered refunds and travel waivers, free of charge to all those customers who had booked tickets to and from Qatar, he said, adding PIA apologises for the inconvenience caused due to flight suspension.

Earlier, Pakistan had suspended flight operation to and from Iran on Feb 28, two days after the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed by authorities.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2020