KARACHI: Pakistan and Bangladesh have restored direct air connectivity after a 14-year suspension, marking a significant step toward strengthening bilateral ties.
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Dhaka landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Thursday, carrying 149 passengers. The aircraft was welcomed with a traditional water salute, while passengers expressed delight at the resumption of direct travel between the two countries. A special ceremony was also held at the airport, including a cake-cutting event.
The flight departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced it will operate two weekly flights between Karachi and Dhaka, with most seats on the next flight already sold.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner Saqib Sadaqat attended the ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Governor Tessori said the restoration of direct flights was not merely an aviation milestone but a broader signal of renewed cooperation across multiple sectors. He added that long-standing obstacles and “conspiracies” had finally come to an end, paving the way for closer people-to-people and economic ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The resumption of flights is expected to facilitate trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, and is being viewed as a positive development in the evolving relationship between the two South Asian nations.
