KARACHI: Pakistan’s national airline launched the first Lahore to Baku flight on Sunday, marking its latest step to expand travel links amid Islamabad’s push for deeper connectivity with Central Asian states. 

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) launched its weekly flight from Lahore to Baku as Islamabad strengthens diplomatic and trade ties with Azerbaijan, a key partner in its broader regional outreach. The new route is expected to boost tourism, business travel, and cultural exchange between the two countries.

PIA’s PK-159 flight departed from Lahore Airport at 11:50 am with 152 passengers for Baku. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov attended a ceremony at the airport before the flight’s departure.

“PIA is expanding its network, and Baku is an important addition to this chain,” Asif was quoted as saying by the airline. “This flight will significantly strengthen relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.”

The new flight service is seen as part of Pakistan’s ongoing quest to improve air connectivity with countries in Central Asia, where it has been seeking to expand trade and diplomatic engagement in recent years.

Pakistan is aggressively eyeing opportunities to expand trade and tourism ties with regional allies, Gulf countries, Central Asian states and others as it targets sustainable economic growth. 

ISLAMABAD: Security has been beefed up in Pakistan’s capital and all routes leading to the Red Zone in Islamabad have been sealed today, Sunday, ahead of a planned Gaza Solidarity March by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) political party. 

Religiopolitical party JI had announced it would organize a march toward the US embassy in Islamabad on Apr. 20 to protest Washington’s support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. 

The JI has held massive protests in Karachi, Lahore and other Pakistani cities this month to protest against Israel’s renewed hostilities in Gaza. The party has also called for a nationwide strike against Israel’s war on Apr. 22.

“Jamaat-e-Islami’s Gaza March is taking place in Islamabad today,” Amirul Azeem, the JI’s general secretary, said in a video message. 

“The government of Pakistan has decided to stop this march. I request the people of Pakistan to actively participate in it.”

Azeem said the Islamabad march by the party would remain peaceful similar to its demonstrations in other parts of the country in the recent past. He urged men, women and the elderly from all walks of life to take part in the march and show their support for Palestine. 

Local media reported that the government has heightened security measures in the capital ahead of the march, which is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm. 

Authorities have blocked three main routes leading to the Red Zone, a high-security area in Islamabad where all the top government buildings, diplomatic missions, and key institutions are located, using containers, barbed wire and concrete barriers.

News reports also mentioned the increased presence of police personnel at various locations in the city. 

Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has frequently criticized the Jewish state for its military operations in Gaza. Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and the need for a revival of negotiations leading to a two-state solution.

Islamabad consistently calls for an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s military offensives in Gaza have killed over 51,000 people and wounded over 116,000, as per the Gaza Health Ministry.