PIA resumes flights to Dubai

DUBAI — Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed its services from Karachi to Dubai yesterday, May 13, after cancelling two of its flights on Saturday.

By A Staff Reporter

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Published: Mon 14 May 2007, 8:35 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 4:23 AM

The cancellation came in the wake of growing tension in Karachi, Pakistan's business district. A country-wide crisis has been brewing there since Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry on March 9 over allegations that he abused his office.

PIA's regional office in Dubai confirmed that two of the airline's incoming commercial flights, PK 213 and PK 243, had arrived yesterday as per schedule at Terminal 1 of the Dubai International Airport.

The UAE carriers, Emirates and Etihad, meanwhile, have not disrupted their operations to Karachi despite the unrest. While Emirates operates 28 flights a week from Dubai, Etihad operates 10 flights per week from Abu Dhabi to Karachi.

Meanwhile, Pakistani expatriates hailing from Karachi remain unperturbed and do not plan to change their travel plans.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, several people said they would not change their holiday plans at any cost. "Whatever is going on in the city is definitely a matter of grave concern because several people have lost their lives and others were injured. However, unrest is a common phenomenon in Karachi and it will die out in a couple of days. I do not think that I need to change my holiday plans," said Farina Asif, a mother of three, who plans to travel to Karachi next month.

Huma Ejaz, a housewife, who is visiting her husband in Dubai and plans to leave for Karachi by the end of this month said, "I am here for a visit. Therefore, I have to return eventually. But whatever the circumstances and situation in Karachi, normalcy does return after some time. We have become accustomed to such situations in Karachi. So I will not be extending my visit due to this reason."

Mohammed Khan, an engineer said, "This issue (unrest) will not stop here. I am sure it will drag on and may escalate further. However, my family is persistent to visit Pakistan and we have no plans to change the vacation plans."


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