Web Report
The Government of Pakistan on Friday allowed international flight operations in Pakistan to fully resume at all airports, a day after it announced the lifting of several coronavirus restrictions in light of reducing cases and deaths.
A NOTAM (notice to airmen) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that operations will resume from August 9 midnight.
“The government of Pakistan is pleased to allow all international passenger operations to/from all airports as available pre-Covid-19.
“International scheduled flight operations to/from Pakistan will revert to authorisations as per summer-20 scheduling season. However, international flight operations shall be conducted in accordance with established guidelines and applicable standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“International cargo and special flight operations may also be conducted to/from Pakistan as per applicable SOPs,” it said.
In another NOTAM, the CAA said all types of domestic passenger operations would be allowed to and from all airports. A day earlier, the Aviation Division had announced that domestic flight operations would be restored from all airports in the country from August 6 midnight.
Aviation Division’s senior joint secretary, Abdul Sattar Khokhar, said all operators would be required to implement the established guidelines, SOPs, and that they would seek prior schedule approval from the competent authority.
Cargo, special flights and private aircraft operations would also be available for all airports subject to compliance with relevant SOPs, he had said.
Pakistan had suspended all international flights on March 21 and domestic flight operations on March 26 due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Pakistan opens up country
The National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Covid-19 on Thursday decided to lift restrictions on tourism sector from Aug 8 and on restaurants and transport sector from Aug 10 and gave a timetable for opening some other sectors, including educational institutions and marriage halls.
A meeting of the NCC presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by representatives of all the provinces also decided to lift restrictions on railways, airlines and metro buses. However, restrictions on the number of people allowed to travel by trains, planes and buses and the mandatory gap between the passengers will remain in place till September. These will be lifted by October if the situation allowed.
These restrictions were enforced on March 16 to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
“Restaurants and cafes, outdoor and indoor, will be allowed to open from 10th August and standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be finalised in next two to three days. Moreover, public parks, theatres, cinemas, amusement parks, arcades, expo centres and beauty parlours will also be allowed to open from Monday,” Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said at a media briefing after the NCC meeting.
He said permission had been given for organising tournaments and matches involving non-contact sports without the presence of audience. Moreover, he added, indoor gyms and sports clubs would also be opened.
