Representational picture. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s aviation sector has witnessed over Rs10 billion losses solely on this month as a consequence of lockdown and journey restrictions imposed by numerous international locations in view of the novel coronavirus – COVID-19 – pandemic.
Based on a report despatched to Prime Minister Imran Khan by the Aviation Division, the Pakistan Worldwide Airways (PIA) – the nationwide flag provider – has up to now witnessed a lack of over Rs7 billion whereas the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has suffered a lack of Rs3.5 billion since starting of March.
The CAA is a public sector autonomous physique underneath the Aviation Division. It oversees and regulates all points of civil aviation in Pakistan. The report stated 28 weekly flights to the United Arab Emirates and 5 weekly flights to Canada have been suspended as a result of pandemic.
Two weekly flights to Italy, Japan, China, Kuwait and Malaysia have additionally been suspended. 4 weekly flights to Qatar and 60 weekly flights to Saudi Arabia are additionally being suspended.
These flights are more likely to stay suspended until March 31 and the Aviation Division apprehends extra loss as a consequence of this continued closure of flight operations.
In the meantime the Aviation Division’s spokesperson on Wednesday stated it’s all set to renew the worldwide flight operations, suspended at Multan, Peshawar, Sialkot, Quetta and Faisalabad, from March 21 after making elaborate coronavirus screening measures there.
“The international flight operation will revert to the original airports, except Gwadar and Turbat, on March 21, 2020 at 0001 hours UTC (0501hours PST),” the spokesman stated in a press launch.
On March 14, the CAA suspended worldwide flight operations from and to Multan, Peshawar, Sialkot, Quetta and Faisalabad airports as a part of security measures towards the coronavirus, limiting worldwide site visitors to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
Now, the spokesman stated, the flight operations are being resumed on the airports after putting in higher gear for correct screening of worldwide passengers there.
“All aircraft are required to be disinfected as per the best industry practices prior to embarkation of passengers at the point of origin. The airline shall be required to submit a certificate in this regard to the CAA, failing which the aircraft shall be denied entry into Pakistan,” the spokesman stated.
This situation would even be relevant for home flights, he added.
He stated all passengers travelling to Pakistan could be required to offer a licensed copy of the take a look at end result for COVID-19 by RT-PCR performed throughout the 24-hour interval previous to boarding the flight.
“The take a look at end result should embrace the identify and passport variety of the passenger. Entry inside Pakistan territorial limits shall not be allowed with out the genuine RT-PCR unfavourable take a look at end result for coronavirus.
The situation will stay in place until 4th April, 0001 hours UTC (0501 hours PST).”
The spokesman stated boarding of all passengers at home flights would even be topic to the screening within the wake of coronavirus.
“This mandatory screening at domestic departures shall be enforced from March 21, at 0001 hours UTC (0501 hours PST) with the help of respective federal and/ or provincial health authorities. This step has been taken to ensure that necessary steps are in place to control the spread of coronavirus,” he stated.
(With further enter from APP.)
