UK air safety body lifts ban on Pakistani airlines after four years

The United Kingdom has officially lifted its ban on Pakistani airlines, a major development that comes four years after the restriction was imposed due to safety concerns.

The decision was made by the UK Air Safety Committee, allowing Pakistani carriers, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), to resume operations. 

However, each airline must still obtain operational approval and relevant permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) before restarting services.

Read: PIA resumes flight to Paris after EU ban lifted

The ban was imposed in July 2020, following a controversial revelation by then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who claimed that Pakistani pilots were operating with fake licenses.

Earlier this year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also lifted its restrictions on Pakistani carriers, allowing PIA to resume flights to Europe.