KARACHI, Oct 26: To cope with emergency workload due to earthquake, PIA has transported 328 tons of domestic relief goods on Karachi-Islamabad sector on scheduled flights to date.

A spokesman for the national carrier said on Wednesday that PIA also arranged and operated five flights by AN12 Freighter on Karachi-Islamabad sector to transport 85 tons of relief goods.

He said a total of 803 tons of relief goods from international stations had been carried into Pakistan by scheduled flights, as well as by nine charter flights.

The spokesman said that the national airline had set up special cells at Karachi and Islamabad with additional manpower working round the clock. “Additionally, a coordination team is working at the head office seven days a week and is available 24 hours on telephones/mobiles to government agencies, NGOs and field offices,” he added.

The spokesman said the special cell in Karachi had been created at the domestic cargo terminal at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport where dedicated telephone/fax lines were functioning round the clock.

He said PIA also planned 25 charter flights on international sector and three on domestic sector to meet the increased requirement of airlifting relief goods into the quake-hit areas.