In a step to repatriate foreign nationals from Pakistan and bring back countrymen stranded abroad, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday allowed Sri Lanka and South Africa to operate special flights to the country, ARY News reported.
The CAA said a request by the Sri Lankan High Commission to operate a cargo/repatriation flight on Colombo-Karachi-Lahore-Colombo sector on April 21 through Sri Lankan Airlines while uplifting 113 Sri Lankan nationals has been approved by the competent authority.
The permissions are subjected to the condition that no disembarkation of flight crew will be permitted from the aircraft upon arrival at the airports in Pakistan.
However, cargo may be off-loaded/uplifted at arrival/departure at the airports.
The permission is also subjected to full compliance with the revised standard operation procedures (SOPs) relating to international passenger and charter flights.
(Colombo Gazette)