ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Pakistan and India have agreed to increase the number of flights, destinations and airlines operating between them.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed here on Friday after two days of talks, both sides would be able to use three airlines each, instead of the present one, for operations on designated routes.

Weekly flights will be increased from 12 to 28 for each side.

New destinations planned under the agreement are Chennai (India) and Islamabad.

Currently flights operate only between Karachi and Lahore and New Delhi and Mumbai.

The agreement to increase the number of airlines is an opportunity for private airlines to exploit the potential market. The revised arrangement would be reviewed after one year.

“Both delegations agreed to meet again at a mutually convenient date within one year to review the capacity, frequency framework and additional destinations in each other’s territory, keeping in view the market demand,” the foreign ministry said after the talks, adding that the current revision had been made because of developments that had taken place in the aviation industry over the past few years.

Officials hoped that the revision would increase people-to-people contacts and business and trade between the two countries.