PIA to operate cargo flights to Saudi Arabia

Published December 24, 2020
The Pakistan International Airlines has announced its decision to operate cargo flights to Saudi Arabia to boost exports. — Photo by Abid Hussain Mehdi/File
The Pakistan International Airlines has announced its decision to operate cargo flights to Saudi Arabia to boost exports. — Photo by Abid Hussain Mehdi/File

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan International Airlines has announced its decision to operate cargo flights to Saudi Arabia to boost exports.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said that fruits, vegetables and meat were exported to Saudi Arabia and the delivery of these products by air would save time.

He said the decision to operate cargo flights to Saudi Arabia had been taken as exports from Pakistan were likely to be affected because of a ban imposed by Riyadh on international passenger flights.

Mr Hafeez said the cargo fares had been kept very attractive and reasonable on the orders of PIA’s Chief Executive Officer Arshad Malik. The first flight with 42 tonnes of cargo departed for Jeddah on Tuesday, he said.

The PIA had already started cargo flights to China.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation has already issued a circular to all airlines operating in the Kingdom to temporarily suspend international flights for one week.

After receiving the circular, the PIA immediately suspended its flig­hts scheduled to operate on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad International Airport administration with the help of health authorities has put in place strict measures to prevent spread of the new wave of coronavirus as every inbound passenger from the United Kingdom is being subjected to a check-up.

An official said that a swab of every passenger arriving from the UK even by an indirect flight was being taken and the passengers were advised for one-week quarantine at their homes. They were only allowed to go after giving their addresses and whereabouts, he added.

The government has already allowed the passengers holding Pakistani passports and business, visitor and transit visas issued by the British authorities to travel back to Pakistan while keeping a negative polymerase chain reaction test report conducted within the 72 hours prior to commencement of travel to Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Race against time
Updated 09 Feb, 2025

Race against time

While some bright spots emerged at Breathe Pakistan moot, we must streamline our climate governance.
Open door
09 Feb, 2025

Open door

THE door is still open for talks, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has reminded the PTI. What matters, however,...
Football suspension
09 Feb, 2025

Football suspension

ONCE again, Pakistan has been ousted from the global football family. FIFA recently suspended the Pakistan Football...
A year later
Updated 08 Feb, 2025

A year later

A war of egos has been fought between a handful of individuals at the cost of the well-being of millions of ordinary Pakistanis.
Wheat decision
08 Feb, 2025

Wheat decision

THE federal decision to stop setting the minimum support price for wheat and cease the staple’s procurement...
Dhanmondi attack
08 Feb, 2025

Dhanmondi attack

HISTORY has shown that unless states deliver development and equal rights to all, disenfranchised people can target...