The United Kingdom announced on Wednesday that it has lifted a long-standing ban on Pakistani airlines, citing significant progress in the country’s aviation safety standards. The decision was communicated by the British High Commission in Islamabad.
The ban was originally imposed by the UK’s Air Safety Committee in 2020 after Pakistan’s then Minister for Aviation revealed that nearly one-third of the country’s pilots had obtained their licenses fraudulently. The disclosure came in the wake of a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) crash in Karachi on May 24, 2020, which claimed 97 lives.
The latest move comes amid growing international recognition of Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen aviation protocols. Earlier this year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also lifted its five-year ban, allowing PIA to resume direct flights to Europe.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott noted that the decision followed “extensive engagement” between the UK’s Air Safety Committee and Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority. However, she clarified that individual airlines will still need to apply for operating permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
“I’m grateful to aviation experts from both countries for their collaborative work in meeting international safety standards,” said Marriott. “Although it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to flying on a Pakistani airline to visit family and friends.”
The High Commission emphasized that decisions to remove countries or airlines from the UK Air Safety List are made through an independent safety assessment process overseen by the committee.
With over 1.6 million people of Pakistani origin living in the UK—and thousands of British nationals residing in Pakistan—the move is expected to help families reconnect and potentially boost bilateral trade ties.
From Islamabad, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif welcomed the UK’s decision and blamed former Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan for triggering the ban with what he described as “baseless” remarks. He said the comments tarnished the country’s image and caused significant financial losses for PIA.
