Two weekly flights will unleash huge potential in bilateral trade, tourism: Ambassador Farhadov
Zubair Qureshi Islamabad
Launch of direct flights between Pakistan to Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan to Pakistan will not only further deepen bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, they will also unleash huge potential that exists in trade and tourism between the two countries.
These views were expressed by Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov at the launch of the first direct flight from Pakistan to Azerbaijan.
According to the Azerbaijan Embassy, the first direct flight took off on March 16, Wednesday, with the Pakistani passengers and officials of Pakistan’s national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Aviation Ministry, the Azerbaijan nationals and members of the business community.
Two flights will operate one on Wednesday, the other on Saturday from Karachi and Lahore to Baku on these two respective days, according to the embassy’s official release.
An official ceremony was held at the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore on the occasion of the launch of direct flight, the Embassy of Azerbaijan’s official press release states.
Speaking at the ceremony Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov welcomed the establishment of direct aerial links between the two countries. He noted that the launch of the direct flights between Baku and Lahore would contribute to further deepening of relations between the two brotherly countries, especially ties in economy and tourism.
CEO of PIA Air Marshal (R) Arshad Malik, Secretary, Aviation Division Shoukat Ali and senior officials were also present on the occasion.
They congratulated the peoples of the two countries on the historic occasion and wished them success in future joint activities. Later, the PIA flight departed for Baku and along with Pakistani passengers, Azerbaijani Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, CEO of PIA Air Marshal (R) Arshad Malik and Secretary Aviation Division Shoukat Ali also travelled to Azerbaijan.
After a little more than 3 hours, it landed at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport of Baku and senior officials received them.
On this occasion, an official ceremony was held at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov, Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee, Director of the State Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan Arif Mammadov, Vice President of AZAL Eldar Hajiyev, CEO of PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik, Secretary Aviation Division Shoukat Ali and other officials attended the ceremony.
Senior officials of the Azerbaijan government, particularly the State Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport received the flight passengers.
Director of Azerbaijan’s Aviation Agency A Mammadov, Vice President of Azal E. Hajiyev, Air Marshal Arshad Malik, Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee also spoke on the occasion. They said it was a very important day and the direct flights would contribute to growing ties in all directions between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, as well as increasing the number of direct flights as a result of future cooperation between the two countries’ airline companies, and they congratulated the people of both countries on this occasion.
On the same day, the Pakistani airlines carried out a direct flight from Karachi to Baku as well.
