KARACHI, March 14: The Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airlines, celebrated the launching of its three new routes to Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar, by hosting more than 100 dignitaries, business leaders and journalists from Pakistan to Abu Dhabi.

  A press release issued on Tuesday said that Pakistan now has the largest number of Etihad routes with 18 flights a week to four destinations, including the daily Karachi service which opened in November 2004.

The press release said in 2004-2005 alone the UAE invested more than US$367m in Pakistan, and this bond was enhanced further when the UAE government pledged US$100 million for the President’s Relief Fund immediately after the October 2005 earthquake.