The UK and several other EU countries had suspended PIA’s flight operations due to concerns about the authenticity of pilot licenses.
The FO today said Dar received a call from British Foreign Secretary David Cameron during which the foreign minister made his request regarding the resumption of flights, saying that it would further bolster linkages, particularly given the large Pakistani diaspora in the UK.
He also stressed the need to enhance bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, people-to-people contacts, and climate matters.
“Reiterating the importance of [the] Pakistan-UK relationship, the foreign minister said that Pakistan and the UK had longstanding, historic relations with multifaceted cooperation. The foreign minister emphasized the early conclusion of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership agreement to take relations to the next level,” the FO said.
The two ministers also discussed important regional issues, including Afghanistan and the situation in Gaza. Dar also invited Lord Cameron to visit Pakistan on mutually convenient dates.
It is pertinent to mention here that the CAA expressed hope last week that PIA flights to the UK would likely resume in May.