Pakistan on Saturday resumed international flight
operations in the country, after months of a suspension imposed to
prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
The government "is pleased to authorize international flight
operations to and from Pakistan from all international airports from
June 20," Abdul Satttar Khokhar, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation
Authority said in a statement late Friday.
The permissions may be subject to restrictions from time to time
based on the evolving Covid-19 scenario and implementation of health
protocols.
Flights will remain suspended at two airports in the southern
province of Balochistan that include Gwadar and Turbat, the statement
said.
The decision was taken to expedite the process of bringing back tens
of thousands of Pakistanis stuck abroad, Moeed Yusuf, Special
Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security told media ahead
of the decision.
Pakistan had suspended international flights in March to control the
spread of coronavirus in the country.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases rose to 171,664 on Saturday,
and related deaths reached 3,382. At least 6,600 new cases and 153
deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, Health Ministry data
showed.
Hospitals in Pakistan are struggling to cope with overwhelming
coronavirus infections as they are running out of beds, even though
the country is still at least a month away from the projected peak of
the pandemic.
The government ,is pleased to authorize international flight operations to and from Pakistan from all international airports from June 20,, Abdul Satttar Khokhar, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement late Friday.