Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has further cut down its fare in order to facilitate students and other passengers travelling from Pakistan to China with immediate effect. “Now, ex-Pakistan fare for students with taxes will be around Rs 248,000 while ex-Pakistan fare for other passengers will be around RMB 10,000,” said official sources here on Saturday.
Last month, the national flag carrier had offered a discount from 10 percent to 15 percent and an additional seven percent discount on surcharge for students wishing to travel between Pakistan and China. Currently, PIA is operating two weekly flights on Islamabad-Chengdu-Islamabad and Islamabad-Xian-Beijing-Islamabad routes. Pakistani students who wish to join their studies at Chinese educational institutes and other passengers planning to travel to China can benefit from the new discount.
A large number of Pakistani students enrolled in Chinese universities could not return to China following Covid-19 travel restrictions. They are planning to come back to China to join offline classes as the Chinese authorities have allowed them to return. On June 20, a special PIA plane brought the first batch of Pakistani students from Islamabad to Xian. These students were stuck in their home country because of the travel restriction under the Covid-19 pandemic.
Talking to APP, Tehsin Ahmad, a Pakistani student, said that the discount would greatly facilitate Pakistani students who are planning to return and start their offline education. He said a large number of students could now avail the offer of discounted fares and return to their respective universities in China.
Abdul Karim, a Pakistani living in the Chinese capital, also expressed pleasure over reduction offered by PIA in its fare for travellers between Pakistan and China, adding, “now people could more frequently travel between the two countries”.—APP
