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UK Removes Pakistan from Air Safety List, Paving Way for PIA Flights
UK lifts ban on Pakistani airlines after air safety improvements. PIA & Airblue can now apply to resume flights to the UK. A major win for aviation & diaspora.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-16
UK Removes Pakistan from Air Safety List, Paving Way for PIA Flights

The United Kingdom on Wednesday removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, officially allowing Pakistani airlines to apply for flight operations to the UK after a years-long ban.

The announcement, made by the British High Commission in Islamabad, follows a thorough aviation security inspection conducted by the UK Department for Transport at Islamabad International Airport. The inspection team deemed Pakistan’s aviation security measures “satisfactory and in line with international standards.”

“Following air safety improvements, the UK’s Air Safety Committee has lifted UK restrictions on Pakistani carriers,” the High Commission said in a statement. However, individual carriers like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Airblue will still need to apply for permits through the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott welcomed the development, praising the cooperation between UK and Pakistani aviation experts. “This is an important step and a testament to the improvements made in air safety,” she said, expressing hope to fly with a Pakistani carrier in future visits.

The ban on Pakistani carriers was originally imposed in June 2020, a month after the tragic crash of a PIA Airbus A320 in Karachi’s Model Colony that killed nearly 100 people. Further reputational damage followed when then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan declared in the National Assembly that nearly 40% of Pakistani pilots held “fake” licenses, prompting bans from the EU, UK, and the US.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the UK’s decision as a “long-awaited relief” that would enhance travel and trade between the two nations. “With over 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK, this move opens up opportunities for families and businesses alike,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).

Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif called it a “historic day” for Pakistan’s aviation sector and praised the ministry’s efforts over three years. He confirmed that both PIA and Airblue were now off the UK’s Air Safety List, adding that the ministry would soon begin the process of securing licenses for flights to Britain. Asif also revealed that the government is working toward resuming flights to New York.

In a press conference, Asif strongly criticised the previous PTI-led government for damaging PIA’s global reputation. He accused former PM Imran Khan and ex-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan of causing “irreparable harm” to the national carrier through irresponsible statements.

“Imran Khan and Ghulam Sarwar turned PIA into a graveyard,” he stated, adding that the speech alleging fake pilot licenses alone was enough to “fix responsibility.”

The aviation minister also stressed that this milestone would boost Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to privatise PIA, noting that restored routes and improved reputation would enhance the airline’s valuation and attract higher bids from private investors.

This latest move comes amid growing UK–Pakistan bilateral engagement. Just days earlier, the UK launched e-visas for Pakistani students and workers, and both countries signed a Trade Dialogue Mechanism Agreement to institutionalise economic cooperation through a newly formed UK-Pakistan Business Advisory Council.

With Pakistan’s airlines now regaining international access, the focus turns to restoring passenger confidence and rebuilding the national carrier’s credibility.

 

 
Tagged:

PIA

PakistanAirlines

AirSafety

UKPakistanFlights

AviationReform

PakUKTrade
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