A communique issued by the US Department of Transportation allowed the PIA to operate 12 flights in a month. Previously, the flag carrier’s flights had to pass through security checks at airports in Europe and Britain before entering the United States – owing to the latter’s security regulations. PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik had written to the US transport department regarding the matter last week. Besides bringing back citizens, the PIA flights would also transport bodies of those who died away from home free of charge. The PIA CEO thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for his efforts to ensure the stranded nationals were repatriated.

Source: The Express Tribune April 30, 2020 09:07 UTC