ISLAMABAD, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Thursday resumed its international flight operations at a limited scale only for special flights subject to the prior permission from the Aviation Division.
Following the resumption, a flight of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) carrying over 350 passengers of Canadian origin departed for Toronto from the Allama Iqbal International Airport in the eastern city of Lahore on Thursday.
According to the statement issued by the Aviation Division, diplomatic flights, special and cargo flights will be allowed to come to and depart from Pakistan after getting special permission from the government.
The decision came after the government extended the suspension of all types of international, domestic, chartered, private aircraft and general aviation operation till April 11, 2020, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of COVID-19.
The government has also given special permission to the national carrier the PIA for limited operations only to transport stranded passengers inside and outside Pakistan.
However, all passengers onboard any inbound flight shall be subjected to thorough checking as per established procedures, including screening, swab testing, isolation or quarantine following the advice of health officials, said the statement.
Local media quoted PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez as saying on Thursday that a limited number of Pakistani nationals stranded in different countries would be brought back.
The spokesperson added that the passengers affected by the suspension of flights last month would be given priority and all inbound flights would land in capital Islamabad only and passengers would be screened by the health authorities.
