Pakistan-Bangladesh direct flights resume after 14 years with Dhaka-Karachi service
PTC Web Desk: After a gap of nearly one and a half decades, direct air connectivity between Pakistan and Bangladesh has been restored, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines operating its first Dhaka–Karachi flight on Thursday night.
According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), the Bangladeshi national carrier landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport late in the evening, marking the resumption of scheduled flights between the two countries after 14 years. The aircraft received a traditional water cannon salute on arrival.
Flight tracking data showed that Biman’s flight BG341 departed Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8.15 pm and touched down in Karachi at 11.03 pm.
Speaking to the media at the airport, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori said the revival of direct flights was an important step and expressed hope that cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh would expand beyond aviation to other sectors as well.
Earlier, Pakistan’s High Commission in Dhaka confirmed that the inaugural flight departed with full occupancy. The ceremony at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport was attended by Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider, and senior officials from both sides.
Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Bashiruddin said the Dhaka–Karachi route was launched to improve regional connectivity, boost tourism and strengthen people-to-people ties. He added that Biman Bangladesh Airlines plans to gradually increase the frequency of flights and work towards lowering fares to make travel more accessible.
Pakistan’s high commissioner, while speaking at the event, referred to earlier discussions between Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on restoring air links. He noted that both sides had agreed to move swiftly on the issue during Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka in August last year.
Earlier this month, Pakistan and Bangladesh had formally announced their decision to restart direct flight operations, ending a suspension that had remained in place for over 14 years.
- PTC NEWS
