The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operated 22 return flights between Pakistan and the kingdom – half of which were special flights. Aviation authorities of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, including national and private airlines management, requested the Saudi officials to allow more time as they were unable to handle the large number of passengers in the given deadline. March 16: PK 755 and PK 756 return flights between Lahore and Riyadh, PK 727 and PK 728 return flights between Islamabad and Riyadh, PK245 and PK 246 return flights between Islamabad and Damam, and PK 242 return flight between Karachi and Damam have been cancelled. The PIA spokesperson added that the national carrier was running disinfection drive as per international standard after every flight. Saudi Arabia has already suspended the Umrah pilgrimage and locked down its eastern Qatif region where many infections are located.

Source: The Express Tribune March 15, 2020 08:41 UTC