After a 14-year hiatus, the primary direct flight between Pakistan and Bangladesh landed at Jinnah Worldwide Airport on Thursday evening, as Biman Bangladesh Airways accomplished its inaugural flight from Dhaka to Karachi.
In an announcement, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) mentioned that the Bangladeshi service returned to Karachi after 14 years and was given a conventional water cannon salute upon touchdown.
The authority hailed the flight as “a brand new chapter” within the relationship between the 2 international locations.
Information from FlightRadar24 confirmed Biman Bangladesh Airways flight BG341 landed in Karachi at 11:03pm, having departed Dhaka at 8:15pm.
In the meantime, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori spoke to the press on the airport, stating that cooperation with Bangladesh wouldn’t be restricted to aviation however would lengthen to different sectors.
“I completely need to say that in the present day, after a number of years, the conspiracies have died,” Tessori mentioned, holding India accountable for “driving a wedge” between the individuals of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
He additional mentioned that India was accountable for terrorism in Pakistan and was additionally “conspiring towards Bangladesh”.
“I congratulate the individuals of Bangladesh, for they haven’t solely defeated the Indian conspiracies but additionally uncovered them,” he mentioned. The governor added that India had been unfair to Bangladesh in cricket as properly, saying it was “out within the open”.
“The love between Pakistan and Bangladesh will develop as a result of I do know that the Bangladeshi individuals love Pakistanis,” Tessori said. “This love will remodel via commerce and cooperation, and we’ll battle these Indian extremists collectively.”
Earlier within the day, Pakistan’s Excessive Fee in Dhaka had launched an announcement, saying that the “absolutely packed” inaugural flight had departed from Hazrat Shahjalal Worldwide Airport, Dhaka.
The flight was seen off by Bangladesh Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, Excessive Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Imran Haider and different officers, the assertion mentioned.
“The resumption of direct flight after a hiatus of 14 years marks a major milestone in strengthening connectivity and bilateral engagement,” it mentioned.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Bangladesh’s adviser for civil aviation and tourism underscored the significance of the Dhaka–Karachi route in “enhancing connectivity, selling tourism and strengthening people-to-people hyperlinks”.
The assertion quoted him as saying, “Bangladesh Airways will steadily enhance flight frequency and cut back airfares to make journey extra inexpensive for the individuals.”
He expressed hope that individuals of Bangladesh will go to Pakistan and discover its pure magnificence, cultural heritage and various cuisines, it added.
Throughout the ceremony, Pakistan’s excessive commissioner recalled the imaginative and prescient of Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim chief, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “aimed toward enhancing connectivity between Pakistan and Bangladesh”.
“In view of the imaginative and prescient of the management and aspirations of the individuals of our two international locations, throughout the go to of the Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka in August final 12 months, either side agreed to take speedy measures for the resumption of direct flights,” the assertion quoted him as saying.
He additionally expressed gratitude to the federal government of Bangladesh, Biman Bangladesh Airways, and the Civil Aviation Authority for making the launch of the flight doable, the assertion mentioned.
“Passengers travelling on the inaugural flight expressed happiness and enthusiasm over the restoration of the direct air hyperlink, describing it as a milestone in the direction of bringing the 2 international locations nearer,” the assertion added.
Earlier this month, it was introduced that each international locations would resume direct flight operations after a 14-year hiatus.
