LONDON
\nDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that they are making efforts to resume flights to and from the United Kingdom as soon as possible as the aviation services between the two countries remain suspended for over four years.
\n\u201cWe have made every effort, even we changed the laws as per the latest requirements of the Aviation Authority of UK to solve the issue of resumption of PIA flights,\u201d the deputy prime minister, who is currently visiting Britain, said while addressing the Pakistani diaspora there.
\nPIA flights to Europe and the UK were suspended after the European Union\u2019s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) revoked the national carrier\u2019s authorisation to fly to the bloc in 2020 in the aftermath of a fake pilot licence scandal in Pakistan.
\nThe issue resulted in the grounding of 262 of Pakistan\u2019s 860 pilots, including 141 of PIA\u2019s 434, whose licences were termed \u201cdubious\u201d by the then aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.
\nThe deputy prime minister, while addressing the event, said that an \u201cirresponsible statement\u201d of a minister from the former minister of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government grounded all aircraft of the country in Europe, UK and the Western world.
\nHe said the government was taking two more actions on privatisation of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and outsourcing of Islamabad International Airport.
\nDar went on to say that the process was moving on the fast track, hoping that it might be completed by the middle of October.
\nHe pointed out that Pakistan attached high importance to the long-standing partnership with the UK and the real pivot of the bilateral relationship was Pakistani diaspora.
\nLater, while addressing the press conference in London, the deputy PM further said that discussions on the resumption of PIA flight operations were held with the British authorities while talks with the European Union were also underway.
\n\u201cWe are determined to comply with the international standards in the aviation sector. All out efforts are being made for the resumption of services,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
Overseas Pakistanis\u2019 representation in parliament on agenda
\nShedding light on his UK visit, Dar said that it was of immense importance especially after the formation of new government in the country by the Labour Party.
\n\u201cPakistan\u2019s ties with Britain are crucial as 1.7 million Pakistanis are residing in the UK. They are our assets,\u201d Dar said, adding that the government was making efforts for the facilitation of overseas Pakistanis and their representation in parliament was on its agenda
\nDar further stated that his meetings with British Deputy PM Angela Rayner and other officials were positive and the visit was over all successful.
\nIt may be noted that Deputy PM Dar had held meetings with UK officials including his British counterpart Rayner on the sidelines of his visit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LONDON Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that they are making efforts to resume flights to and from the United Kingdom as soon as possible as the aviation services between the two countries remain suspended for over four years. \u201cWe have made every effort, even we changed the laws as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-429799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n