Pakistan, Syria resume air links after 20 years

Cairo: The first Pakistani flight to Syria in over two decades years had landed in Damascus, the Syrian state media reported.

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane arrived Friday at the Damascus International Airport from Karachi, signalling the return of air traffic between the two countries suspended for more than 20 years, Syria’s official news agency SANA said.

The flight carried a Pakistani delegation led by Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and 286 passengers, launching the reoperation of flights between Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and Damascus, the agency said.

Speaking on the occasion, Syrian Transport Minister Zouheir Khzeim said the flight is the first after a 20-year hiatus, describing it as an important step for developing economic links between his country and Pakistan.

SANA quoted the Pakistani aviation minister as saying that the flight was the first step that will be followed by others for enhancing cooperation in civil aviation between the two countries.