KARACHI: For the relief of stranded citizens wanting to go back to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for employment or residence purposes, PIA has been allowed to operate 21 additional flights to the country to cope with tremendous pressure on the national flag carrier.

On an SOS call by the CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan to help the inconvenience caused to the citizens, highest level diplomatic engagement occurred, consequent to which, the Saudi authorities have allowed PIA to operate these additional flights, PIA spokesman said on Thursday.

PIA operates 23 weekly flights from different cities in Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a capacity of nearly 12,000 passengers a week. After the grant of permissions, PIA's flights to KSA sold out in hours resulting in severe capacity deficiency to cope with the demand. PIA asked for 28 more flights on September 18, 2020, but only 13 were allowed and that too with social distancing, meaning by further reducing the capacity by 33 percent. With 13 additional flights, PIA was able to carry only 3,500 passengers which was far less than what was demanded.

After the intervention of Prime Minister of Pakistan and subsequent grant of 21 extra flights PIA will now be able to carry 25,500 passengers to Saudi Arabia before 30th of this month when most of the Aqaama are expiring.

Citing similar demand in October, the airline has already planned to double number of flights for the month and has already requested Saudi Authorities in this regard for permissions.

CEO PIA, Air Marshal Arshad Malik has thanked the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, Federal Minister for Aviation, Foreign Minister and Secretary foreign affairs for playing a pivotal role in the grant of extra flights.

CEO PIA has also requested Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help in getting extension in the validity of Aqaama for Saudi Arabia to help Pakistani workforce and to cope up with the rush and congestion.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020