ISLAMABAD – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has urged aviation authorities in the US to conduct independent assessment of the national carrier and airport facilities in the country so direct flights between the two countries could be restored.
PIA in a tweet said that Chairman Air Marshal (R) Arshad Malik held a meeting with US Secretary of Transport Pete Buttigieg under the leadership of Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi.
The Pakistani officials urged the US secretary to advise Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct their own assessment of PIA and airport facilities in Pakistan, independent of European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), restoring permission for direct flight operations to the US.
#PIA under the leadership of @AliHZaidiPTI held a meeting with US Secretary of Transportation @PeteButtigieg urging them to advise FAA & @TSA to conduct their own assessments of PIA & Pak Airport Facilities, independent of @EASA, restoring permissions for PIA's direct ops to USA pic.twitter.com/A68ITxb5Or
— PIA (@Official_PIA) February 2, 2022
Last month, EASA refused to lift the ban on PIA flights to the EU and the United Kingdom, hinting that it will take the decision in this regard after conducting assessment of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and PIA.
In today’s meeting, Ali Haider Zaidi and the US Secretary of Transport initiated a dialogue between the two nations on transportation and logistics cooperation & challenges.
“Direct talks between them will result in enhancing opportunities for the country’s maritime sector. Federal Minister apprised the US Secretary on the many initiatives taken by the Government of Pakistan through Ministry of Maritime Affairs along with Cabinet Committee on Transport & Logistics (CCoTL),” read the official statement.
The minister highlighted the challenges faced by Pakistani seafarers destined to US ports. For which he requested the establishment of a dedicated window at the US Consulate in Karachi to help reduce processing time for seafarers visas.
The US Secretary of Transport acknowledged the issue and agreed to pursue the matter with the relevant authorities. Potential partnerships and signing of Sister Port Agreements between US and Pakistan ports was also discussed in the meeting.
Various investment opportunities for US companies in the logistics sector of Pakistan were also talked about. Minister Zaidi also presented an idea of a dedicated warehousing facility at Port Qasim specifically designed for trade between Pakistan and the US.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary Maritime Affairs Asad Hayauddin, Additional Secretary Foreign Affairs Mr. Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, US Chargé d’affaires in Pakistan Angela Aggeler, and other important officials.
Minister expressed his gratitude to the US Secretary for discussing the matters of mutual interests in the meeting and gave an invitation to visit Pakistan which was warmly accepted by the Secretary.
Read more: https://pakobserver.net/eu-safety-agency-refuses-to-lift-restrictions-on-pia-flights/
