PIA resumes Dhaka flights after break of 13 days

The PIA resumed its flights to Dhaka on March 10 after suspension of 13 days. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan's state-owned carrier, suspended its Dhaka-Karachi operation for nearly two weeks to protest a raid at its station manager's residence in Dhaka by police authorities.

PIA officials said it resumed its flights to Bangladesh after temporarily suspending it 'in protest over mistreatment of PIA station manager', by the Bangladeshi authorities.

Bangladesh police raided PIA's country station manager's residence, Ali Abbas on February 25.

During the raid, the station manager was outside Bangladesh.

Md Manzur Jalil, sales manager at its Dhaka main office at Banani told the FE: "We've resumed our operation from Tuesday last." PIA runs five flights a week carrying nearly 200 passengers in each aircraft.

PIA flight leaves for Karachi at 1:35 pm and reaches the southern city of Pakistan at 4:00pm local time.

People familiar with the issue told the FE that PIA resumed its operations following initiative by the foreign office.

The Pakistan's foreign office had expressed their disappointment over the incident and stated that they had sought clarification from the relevant authorities.

Large number of Bangladeshi passengers, especially those going to Middle Eastern countries, use the PIA flights as they use the Karachi airport as a transit port.

     jasimharoon@yahoo.com