UK Lifts Ban on Pakistani Airlines After Safety Reforms

UK Lifts Ban on Pakistani Airlines After Safety Reforms
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Britain has lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, allowing them to apply to resume flights to and from the UK, Al Jazeera reported. The decision comes as Pakistan intensifies efforts to privatize its struggling national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
The UK Air Safety Committee removed Pakistan from its air safety list following independent reviews that cited improvements in aviation safety standards. The move follows a similar decision by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which lifted its own ban earlier this year.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the UK’s decision as a significant step forward, particularly for the Pakistani diaspora in Britain. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the move would enhance PIA’s valuation ahead of privatization and mentioned plans to restart flights to New York.
PIA was banned in 2020 after a fatal crash in Karachi killed 97 people. The incident led to revelations about pilot license irregularities, prompting international bans. PIA has since undergone reforms and reported its first operational profit in over two decades.