Pakistan International Airlines has asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to examine the alleged proposal to offer domestic flying rights to a foreign airline, which would have major ramifications for domestic airlines that are already battling to exist.
In a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, PIA CEO Arshad Malik called his attention to recent press reports that Pakistan had granted a foreign airline domestic rights as part of a drive to promote foreign direct investment.
According to the CEO, such a decision would be damaging to the ailing domestic aviation industry and would have long-term consequences for the country.
According to Arshad Malik, a national airline has reached an agreement with a foreign airline, Air Arabia, under which the latter will be able to fly into Pakistan.
According to the CEO, the foreign business will thus take over the domestic market and violate the country’s aviation regulations, under which Air Arabia has been refused further rights to operate in Pakistan.
