Minister for Defence and Aviation Khawaja Asif on Wednesday welcomed the lifting of the UK ban on Pakistani airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), calling it a major step forward for the country's aviation sector.
He criticized the previous PTI-led government, holding former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and the party’s leadership responsible for the crisis that led to the five-year ban. The government will decide on what and when to take action against those responsible, he added.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Khawaja Asif said the irresponsible statements made by the PTI government had invited international regulators to take action against PIA, damaging not just the airline but Pakistan’s national identity and prestige.
“Ghulam Sarwar committed a crime against the state and has yet to offer an explanation,” said Khawaja Asif. “The PTI founder is also responsible for turning PIA into a graveyard, while its staff had previously strengthened other airlines."
He noted that the ban not only caused billions in losses to the national airline but also inflicted irreparable reputational damage, affecting overseas Pakistanis who were forced to bury their loved ones abroad due to PIA's inability to transport bodies free of cost.
The minister confirmed that PIA will now apply for an operating license to resume flights to the UK and that private Pakistani airlines have also been granted permission. He further revealed that efforts are underway to restore flights to New York, and said the privatization of PIA will proceed in the next phase.
“Today’s good news will help improve the privatization process. A well-structured PIA will be handed over to the buyer,” he added.
Khawaja Asif expressed gratitude to British and European regulators for their cooperation and guidance during the difficult years. He emphasized that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was personally monitoring the matter and that the lifting of the ban would bring relief to Pakistani communities in the UK, as well as boost new international routes and aircraft acquisitions for PIA.
“PIA was once abandoned and turned into an obsolete airline. Today, we are ending that story on a good note,” he concluded.
