The UK has removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, allowing Pakistani airlines—most notably PIA—to apply for flight operations to Britain, the British High Commission in Islamabad announced Wednesday.
The ban, imposed in June 2020 after a PIA plane crash in Karachi killed nearly 100 people, was lifted following a recent inspection at Islamabad International Airport by the UK Department for Transport, which found Pakistan’s aviation security in line with international standards.
“Following air safety improvements, the UK’s Air Safety Committee has lifted restrictions on Pakistani carriers,” the High Commission said. Airlines must now apply for permits through the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott praised the collaboration between UK and Pakistani aviation experts. On X, she called the move “an important step” and a testament to safety reforms. While flights won’t resume immediately, she expressed hope of flying a Pakistani carrier soon.
The UK Air Safety Committee, which has worked closely with Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority since 2021, determined that necessary improvements had been made, justifying the removal.
According to PIA, it is willing to restart flights to UK because of its observance of high safety standards. Airblue is also cleared, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed, saying that the ministry would now apply to licenses of the UK routes as well as the New York flights are on the cards as well.
Prime Minister. Shehbaz Sharif hailed the move, adding that this would increase travel and trade, to the benefit of the 1.6 million strong Pakistani diasporas in the UK. According to Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, availability of a diplomatic and technical compliance led to the lifting of the ban.
Asif hailed the announcement as a milestone after three years of effort, thanking civil aviation officials and international regulators. He criticized the previous PTI government for damaging PIA’s reputation, citing ex-minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s claim in parliament that 40% of Pakistani pilots held fake licenses.
Calling it a “crime against the state,” Asif urged accountability, noting that the scandal led to major losses for PIA and affected the airline’s image abroad.
With flight operations set to resume, Asif said PIA’s privatization would follow, expecting higher bids due to restored routes, improved investor confidence, and plans to upgrade the fleet.
The move coincides with other UK-Pakistan developments this week, including the launch of UK e-visas for Pakistanis and the signing of a Trade Dialogue Mechanism and Business Advisory Council to strengthen economic ties.
