RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sought permission from Uzbekistan to operate its flights from Lahore to Tashkent and announced an increase in the number of international flights.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said on Thursday that PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik had intensified efforts to launch Tashkent flights and talks had been held between the PIA chief executive and Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Aibak Arif Usmanov and Ambassador of Pakistan to Uzbekistan Syed Ali Asad Gilani.

During the meeting, the PIA sought permission to start Lahore-Tashkent flights as the national flag carrier planned to start the flights by the end of March, the spokesman added.

The Uzbek cities of Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand are important for religious tourism.

The spokesman said the PIA had been expanding its operations to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, adding that the airline’s fifth flight to Kabul would start from March 4, while flights from Lahore to Baku would start from March 14.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2021