Pakistan has resumed limited domestic flight operations from five major airports on Saturday, as the country continued to gradually ease lockdown measures.
The first Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flight carrying 84 passengers departed from Karachi for Lahore at 1pm, along with flights for Lahore and Islamabad operated by a private airline.
PIA said the SOPs are strictly being observed to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
It has been made mandatory for the passengers to wear masks and use hand sanitizers. “The airline is operating flights as part of its national duty,” according to the aviation company.
In a video statement issued Friday, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had said 20% of domestic flights would resume from Saturday, but in limited capacity. The announcement came following a final decision taken by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Thursday.
The five major airports allowed to restart operations include Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, Islamabad International Airport (IIAP), Quetta International Airport, and Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport.
Sarwar had said social distancing will be followed based on available seats and flights will only be allowed to fill 50% of their full capacity.
“Passengers will be provided the opportunity to travel safely,” he had added.
The move came “in view of the difficulties being faced by passengers in travelling between major cities in Pakistan”, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said on Twitter.
