DM Monitoring
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has continued flights operation from Kabul to Islamabad as on Friday four flights of the national carrier landed here with 740 passengers in total, as part of Pakistan’s efforts to evacuate people wishing to leave Afghanistan after a takeover by the Taliban.
According to details, two more flights carrying 390 passengers have arrived in Islamabad from Kabul later on Friday, the first flight to arrive back was an Airbus jet, whereas the second one was a Boeing 777. While earlier in the day two Boeing 777 flights had carried 350 passengers. The passengers belonged to 10 different countries, including diplomats from Germany and the Philippines, besides citizens from Pakistan and Afghanistan, the spokesperson for PIA said.
PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik himself accompanied the first flight out to Kabul Friday to boost the morale of the staff. When the PIA flight entered Afghan airspace, it was given a warm welcome by the director general of the country’s aviation authority, the PIA spokesperson said. The PIA chief held meetings with the staff of the Afghan civil aviation authority and personnel from the NATO forces.
He also accompanied Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan in reviewing PIA’s managerial and operational matters at the airport. It is expected that Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar will permit more flights to Kabul.
Meanwhile, the matter of extending flight operations to other cities is under deliberation. The first two flights: The national flag carrier, with the support of the Pakistan embassy and local authorities, brought back another 350 passengers from Kabul to Islamabad earlier on Friday.
Around 350 passengers, including around 250 staff members of the World Bank, were brought back to Islamabad aboard two Boeing 777 flights.
Other passengers included foreigners and local Afghans attached with several international organisations, Afghan Wireless communication, Vimco Imtiaz construction company, Sky aero logistics, and those working with the embassy of the Philippines.
Mansoor Ahmad Khan said the embassy had made special arrangements for the safe passage of the people from Afghanistan. He said the PIA carried some passengers on Thursday and will be operating two flights on Friday and more in the incoming days.
