Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and congratulated him on the UK lifting its ban on Pakistani airlines. He praised Asif and his team for their efforts in restoring the country’s aviation credibility.
This decision marks a major milestone for Pakistan’s national carrier and aviation sector. The UK’s Air Safety Committee removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List after technical cooperation with the Civil Aviation Authority and safety standards improvements.
PM Shehbaz pointed out that the ban stemmed from earlier irresponsible statements by former officials. He said these remarks hurt Pakistan’s global image. With the ban lifted, he said, travel will become easier for over 1.6 million Pakistanis living in the UK and could also boost tourism and trade.
Following the ban’s removal, only individual airlines need to apply for UK permits before flights can resume. Jane Marriott, British High Commissioner, thanked both countries’ aviation teams. She hopes to fly with a Pakistani carrier once operations restart.
Minister Asif said restoring flights would add value to PIA ahead of its privatization. Pakistan recently approved bids for a 51–100% stake in the airline. The minister believes this approval will help attract investors and enable new routes like London or New York.