Limited domestic flights operation may resume

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

RAWALPINDI: Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan said on Wednesday that it had been decided in principle to resume limited domestic flights as suspension of their operation will end on Thursday midnight.

However, he said a final decision in this regard would be taken at a meeting of the National Coordination Committee headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The minister said the issue of resuming domestic flights was discussed in detail at a top-level meeting held in Islamabad on Wednesday. It was attended by chief ministers of the four provinces, officials of the National Disaster Management Authority, health department and Gilgit-Baltistan.

“Due to public demand it has been decided in principle to resume domestic flights, but a final decision will be taken by the prime minister,” Mr Khan said, adding that he hoped the prime minister will allow resuming domestic flights.

He said the Aviation Division, along with the Pakistan International Airlines, had planned to initially operate domestic flights to and from four airports — Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Quetta.

The minister said the construction industry, small shops and agriculture had already been allowed to resume business, and since Eidul Fitr was approaching, “we discussed the issue of small traders during today’s meeting to facilitate people ahead of Eid”.

“We are in a position to resume domestic flight operation, but our top priority is to save the lives of people from coronavirus. In this regard, SOPs (standard operating procedures) are being chalked out and Prime Minister Imran Khan will decide in the best interest of the people of the country,” he said.

After the outbreak of coronavirus, international and domestic flight operations had been suspended till April 30 to contain the spread of Covid-19. The suspension of domestic flights was further extended till May 7.

Abdul Sattar Khokhar, senior joint secretary of the Aviation Division, said that since the extension in suspension of domestic flights was ending on Thursday midnight, it was up to the prime minister to decide whether to resume the operation or further extend the suspension.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2020

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Laila

May 07, 2020 10:03am

Too soon....

Recommend 0

Syed A. Mateen

May 07, 2020 12:59pm

It's a good news that domestic operation of flights will be resumed between some sectors, but it should not mean that PIA or other private airlines should start fleecing the passengers. As coronavirus is still not over, therefore, it will be a must for passengers to maintain social distancing in addition to wearing masks. While maintaing social distancing, airlines itself will place passenger after leaving one seat vacant in between two passengers which will be loss of revenue for PIA or other private airlines whichever is / are allowed to fly in between permitted routes. People are already running high and dry due to lock down in the country and as such passengers are not left with much money to spend for buying airlines tickets on exorbitant rates. The government is run from revenue earned from the tax payers, as always, the kitty of the government always remain without money and this is the reasons that taxes are imposed on the people one after another several times in a year.

Recommend 0

HAJI

May 07, 2020 01:45pm

What about PESHAWAR!

Recommend 0

Danish

May 07, 2020 01:53pm

Very good start everything . Enough rest for people lets go back to work and build the economy for future.

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

May 07, 2020 03:59pm

Sooner or later, domestic flights under some restrictions have to be re-started as seen in other countries like the U.S. and its European allies.

Recommend 0

Sami Khan

May 07, 2020 05:35pm

When will the international flights be opened? Pakistanis stranded abroad demand immediate opening of Intl. flights. PIA is taking exorbitant rates and stuffing the people in planes regardless of safety precautions. Attempt is being done to give the loss making PIA make profits by solely operating within and outside Pakistan. This is not fair, all other airlines shall be given due chance for equal competition!

Recommend 0

Uzair

May 07, 2020 06:03pm

Please ensure a quarantine period of a week or so, and do tests in all arrivals. This would be much better than no travel at all, and would add only a little, comparatively speaking, to the travel costs of passengers, which they should find be able to afford, as they can already afford international travel. Another guideline, if made mandatory, can almost guarantee safe and continuous international travel. Which is to require all incoming and outgoing planes to have intake ducts over all seats to suck in air that would then go through sterilizing channels, and then recirculate sterilized air, minimizing spread in airplanes.

Recommend 0

Sukaina

May 08, 2020 09:37am

The government needs to resume international flights as well. Thousands of people are stuck in the UAE with no way home. They gave registered with the Consulate who is completely ignoring everyone instead of helping them or reassuring them. If international flights are resumed we can help ourselves instead of pleading to the Consulate who is ignoring everyone! They have only repatriated 5000 people from over 60000 who have registered. These people are starving, unemployed, helpless and homeless, living in the streets. 5000 people in 1 month is a drop in the ocean. People can self quarantine responsibly but their tortoise speed of repatriation Is not enough. We are appealing to the Prime Minister to open up passenger flights so we can all come home safely.

Recommend 0

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