City
Epaper

Pakistan to resume flight operations to China

By IANS | Updated: February 3, 2020 09:00 IST

Amid the global outbreak of deadly China-originated novel coronavirus, Pakistan has decided to resume its flight operations to te Asian giant, an aviation official said.

Open in App

Joint Secretary Aviation Division Abdul Sattar Khokhar said that the flight operations between the two countries will resume on Monday, The Express Tribune reported.

On January 31, Pakistan had suspended flights to China in the wake of the deadly virus outbreak which has killed 361 people in China as of Sunday night.

"Southern China Airlines's flight carrying 150 passengers will land at the Islamabad airport on Monday at 9 in the morning," Khokhar said, adding that the notification regarding the flights suspension was issued till February 2.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government was also ramping up its defences against the contagion virus with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa declaring its five northern districts "most sensitive" due to fear of the mysterious illness.

Administration officials identified these districts as Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra and Abbottabad.

"We are on high alert due to the movement of Chinese citizens in the region," Altaf Hussain, the deputy commissioner of Battagram, told The Express Tribune.

Almost 500 Pakistanis are studying in various universities of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak which is in virtual lockdown.

Last week, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Zafar Mirza said that at least four Pakistani students tested positive for the mysterious pathogen.

But on Saturday, Mirza said that the decision of non-repatriation of Pakistani citizens from China was final, saying that the government had "complete trust" in Beijing's policies to combat the epidemic.

He further said that a comprehensive plan had been devised to ensure that when flights from China to Pakistan resume, passengers are screened properly.

On Sunday, Mirza confirmed that all the seven suspected coronavirus patients in Pakistan tested negative.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: pakistanchinaMirza
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalIndia Extends Airspace Ban on Pakistan-Based Aircraft Till July 24

InternationalUS President Donald Trump to Meet Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir in Washington DC Over Lunch

InternationalPakistan Gives Nuclear Bomb Threat to Israel If It Nukes Iran, Says Top Iranian Official Mohsen Rezaei

InternationalPakistani National Accused in Plot to Shoot New York Jewish Centre Extradited From Canada to US

MumbaiRam-Sita Profile Pics, Honey Traps and Leaks: Shocking Spy Plot Uncovered by Maharashtra ATS

International Realted Stories

InternationalPM Modi's zero tolerance policy on terror has shaped New India's global image: Tarun Chugh

InternationalGradually winding up evacuation exercise after ceasefire: Indian Embassy in Iran

InternationalIsraeli envoy Reuven Azar thanks US for support in neutralising Iranian threats

International"Israel has refrained from additional attacks," says Israeli PMO amid reports of ceasefire violations

InternationalUN chief Antonio Guterres welcomes ceasefire between Iran and Israel