ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has formally requested the Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), the world’s leading airport slot coordinator, to grant lease of its two London Heathrow slots to Saudi Airlines for 2025, a PIA spokesperson said on Sunday.
Pakistan was forced to lease out its slots at European airports after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspended PIA’s authorization to operate in the bloc in June 2020 due to concerns about the South Asian country’s ability to comply with international aviation standards.
The suspension, followed by restrictions from the UK and US authorities, came after an investigation into the validity of pilots’ licenses following a deadly PIA plane crash in Karachi that killed 97 people. In Nov. 2024, EASA lifted the ban and allowed PIA to resume flights, and the airline last month resumed Europe operations, with a flight from Islamabad to Paris.
“PIA has formally requested a slot swap with the ACL for its London Heathrow operations in summer 2025 to lease two returning slots from Vietnam Airlines to Saudi Airlines from April 5 till October 25,” PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan told Arab News.
When PIA first faced restrictions from the EU, the national flag carrier used the “babysitting option” to preserve its slots by leasing them to Turkish Airlines, Saudi Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, according to the PIA spokesperson.
“We took this step to preserve our slots as securing slots at Heathrow Airport is extremely difficult and PIA had 10 slots, which we leased to three airlines, six to Turkish Airlines and two each to Saudia and Vietnam Airlines,” he said, adding that the lease is renewed every six months.
“With Vietnam Airlines’ lease for these two slots ending on April 5, we have now allocated them to Saudi Airlines, which will have a total of four PIA slots at Heathrow for the next summer season.”
While PIA has resumed Europe operations, the debt-ridden airline remains barred from operating flights to the UK and the US.
Last month, a delegation of the UK’s Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority visited Pakistan to examine aviation safety protocols, review documentation, evaluate operational procedures, and airlines to assess compliance with international standards, according to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). Based on the team’s report, the UK Safety Review Board will decide on the possibility of restarting PIA operations in the country during its meeting on March 12-13.
“Once Pakistan receives permission to resume its own flights to the UK, we will gradually reclaim these slots for our own operations,” Khan said.
Pakistan had grounded 262 of its 860 pilots, including 141 of PIA’s 434, whose licenses were deemed “dubious.” The investigation ultimately did not reveal any major concerns but the suspension remained in place.
Pakistan’s government has said it is committed to privatizing the debt-ridden airline and has been scrambling to find a buyer. Late last year, a deal fell through after a potential buyer reportedly offered a fraction of the asking price.
PIA posted losses of $270 million in 2023, according to local media. Its liabilities were nearly $3 billion, about five times the total worth of its assets.
The government hopes the opening of European routes, which officials expect will be followed by a similar announcement by the UK later this year, will boost PIA’s selling potential.
Pakistan state airline leases two more London Heathrow slots to Saudia for 2025, official says
https://arab.news/c878p
Pakistan state airline leases two more London Heathrow slots to Saudia for 2025, official says
- Pakistan leased out its European airport slots to preserve them after it was banned from flying to the bloc in 2020
- Out of 10 PIA Heathrow slots, six were being operated by Turkish Airlines, two each by Saudia and Vietnam Airlines
Pakistan saw highest number of militant attacks during Ramadan in a decade
- The Pak Institute for Peace Studies reported at least 84 attacks during Ramadan, which ended Sunday in Pakistan
- Some militant groups previously paused hostilities for Ramadan, but overall violence has increased in recent years
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan saw the highest number of militant attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a decade, a think tank reported Monday.
Some militant groups previously paused hostilities for Ramadan, but the country has seen an overall increase in violence in recent years.
The Pak Institute for Peace Studies reported at least 84 attacks during Ramadan, which ended Sunday in Pakistan. It reported 26 attacks during last year’s Ramadan.
The Pakistani Taliban unilaterally ended a ceasefire with the government in November 2022, while the Baloch Liberation Army has developed its capabilities to stage elaborate attacks. Both have contributed to the rise in violence.
The outlawed BLA was behind a train hijacking on March 11 in the southwest province of Balochistan that killed at least 25 people.
Another think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, recorded 61 attacks in the first three weeks of Ramadan. There were 60 total attacks in the previous Ramadan, it said.
It also said this was the deadliest Ramadan in a decade for security personnel, with 56 killed between March 2 and March 20.
Abdullah Khan, managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, cited an overall escalation in militant activity.
“There has been a unification of different groups,” Khan said. “Baloch factions are joining hands. In some areas (of the northwest), the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction is more lethal than the Pakistani Taliban, it is competing with them.”
He said there was also a revival of banned organizations like Lashkar-e-Islam, which operates from the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pakistan accuses the Taliban government in neighboring Afghanistan of giving haven to such groups, saying militants have thrived since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Kabul rejects that.
Khan also pointed to intelligence failures, including those that led to the train hijack in Balochistan, and the widening trust gap between the state and the population: “It’s important to get back public support. The public is the first line of defense.”
Pakistan army chief spends Eid with troops on Afghan border amid surge in militancy
- Pakistan ranks as the second-most affected country by terrorism, according to The Global Terrorism Index 2025
- Islamabad has blamed the surge on militant groups operating out of Afghanistan, an allegation denied by Kabul
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir on Monday visited the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, where he spent the first day of Eid Al-Fitr with officers and troops deployed along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, the Pakistani military said.
Gen. Munir visit comes at a time when Pakistan security forces have been fighting a surge in militant attacks in the country’s western provinces of KP and Balochistan.
Pakistan is battling twin insurgencies: one led by religiously motivated groups, mainly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in KP and the other by ethno-nationalist Baloch separatists in Balochistan.
During his visit to KP’s South Waziristan and Dera Ismail Khan districts, the army chief extended Eid greetings to the troops and lauded their “unwavering dedication and exemplary service to the nation.”
“Your commitment and resilience not only secure our homeland but also exemplify your profound love for Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
Pakistan ranks as the second-most affected country by terrorism, according to The Global Terrorism Index 2025. Militancy-related deaths surged by 45 percent, rising from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024, marking one of the steepest global increases.
At least 1,141 Pakistanis were killed or injured from Jan. 1 till Mar. 16 in “terrorism” incidents, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudry said this month.
Islamabad has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks in Pakistan’s western regions. Afghan officials deny involvement, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
Speaking with officers and troops deployed on the border, the army chief lauded the morale of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for braving the “menace of terrorism,” according to the ISPR.
“The COAS (chief of army staff) attributed their achievements to the sacrifices of our martyrs and those who are committed toward the greater cause of peace and stability,” it added.
Cookbook ‘Pakistan’ serves up recipes for Eid mainstays: mutton pulao, garlic chutney, sweet seviyan
Cookbook ‘Pakistan’ serves up recipes for Eid mainstays: mutton pulao, garlic chutney, sweet seviyan
- As Ramadan ends, Maryam Jilani’s new cookbook sheds light on Pakistan’s varied cuisine and culinary traditions
- Recipes reflect diverse nature of Pakistan’s migrant communities and influences on its food from India, China and beyond
A mainstay at the Eid Al-Fitr table of award-winning food author Maryam Jillani’s grandmother, Kulsoom, was mutton pulao, an aromatic rice dish prepared in a gently spiced bone broth. It’s both comforting and celebratory — and can be absolutely revelatory when paired with a sharp condiment like a garlic chutney.
Dessert included seviyan, sweetened vermicelli noodles simmered in spiced milk.
Here are recipes from Jillani’s new cookbook, “Pakistan,” for the mutton, chutney, and seviyan:
Mutton Pulao (Aromatic Rice with Mutton)
Serves 6 to 8 as a main course
Ingredients:
About 3 pounds bone-in mutton, lamb or beef, cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
4 whole cloves
2 black cardamom pods
One 2-inch cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
2 tablespoons garlic paste
2 tablespoons salt, or to taste
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 cups basmati rice, rinsed in several changes of water
Directions:
Fill a large pot with 8 to 10 cups water. Add the mutton, half of the onions, the whole cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cumin seeds, 1 tablespoon of the garlic paste, and 1 tablespoon of the salt. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook the mutton for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the quality of the meat, until it is tender. With a slotted spoon, remove the meat. Strain the solids from the liquid, return the liquid to the pot, and place it by the stove. Discard the solids.
In a clean, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil until it begins to shimmer. Add the remaining onions and fry on medium-low heat for 12 to 15 minutes until they are a deep golden-brown color. Take care to not let them burn. Stir in the remaining garlic paste and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the mixture no longer smells raw.
Increase the heat to high and add the mutton and remaining 1 tablespoon salt. Sear the meat, 5 to 7 minutes, until it has browned slightly. Pour in 6 cups of the strained mutton broth (put any leftover broth in airtight containers and freeze for later use). Taste and add more salt as needed. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to maintain a simmer. Carefully pour in the rice and let cook for about 10 minutes until the water completely evaporates.
Wrap a tight-fitting lid with a clean kitchen towel and place it securely on the pot. Turn the heat to the lowest possible setting and let the rice steam for at least 10 to 12 minutes until fluffy. Carefully transfer the pulao to a serving platter and fluff with a fork.
Lahsun ki Chutney (Garlic Chutney)
Aida Khan, a London-based entrepreneur and chef, shared her mother’s recipe for this vibrant, punchy lahsun ki chutney. It’s very spicy, so a little goes a long way. Refrigerate this chutney in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients:
4 heads garlic, cloves separated and peeled
1 1/2 small red onions, roughly chopped
1/4 cup red chili flakes
1 bird’s eye chile (optional)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Directions:
In a food processor, combine the garlic, onions, chile flakes, and bird’s eye chile (if using), and blitz until you have a thick paste.
In a small saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the garlic and onion paste and salt. Bring it to a simmer, cover the pan, and reduce the heat to low. Cook the chutney for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn’t stick to the pan, until the garlic and onions have caramelized and the chutney’s color deepens.
Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the lemon juice and serve.
Seviyan (Sweetened Roasted Vermicelli)
Serves 12
Ingredients:
1/4 cup ghee
6 green cardamom pods, cracked
5 1/2 ounces seviyan (semolina vermicelli)
8 1/2 cups full-fat milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons blanched sliced almonds
Directions:
In a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, melt the ghee and heat it until it begins to shimmer. Add the cardamom pods and fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the seviyan and fry over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until browned slightly. Gradually pour in the milk and bring the pudding to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and stir in the sugar until it dissolves. Keep the milk at a gentle simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring continually, until the milk thickens but the seviyan still has some bite.
Transfer the seviyan to a serving bowl. Top with sliced almonds. Let it cool to room temperature before serving. To store, transfer to an airtight container, refrigerate, and use within 2 to 3 days.
Pakistan to dispatch 70 tons of aid to Myanmar as quake death toll passes 2,000
- With communications down, the true scale of the disaster has yet to emerge and the death toll is expected to rise
- At least 19 deaths have also been confirmed in Bangkok, where the quake caused a 30-story tower block to collapse
KARACHI: Pakistan will dispatch 70 tons of relief goods to Myanmar in the wake of a deadly earthquake that has killed more than 2,000 people, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said on Monday.
The statement came after Sharif spoke with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and extended his condolences over the loss of precious lives and property due to the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday.
The Pakistan prime minister assured his country was ready to provide any assistance to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the earthquake, according to Sharif’s office.
“National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan would be dispatching around 70 tons of relief goods to Myanmar in two sorties that would arrive within the next 48 hours to help the earthquake affected people,” he was quoted as saying.
The development came as Myanmar declared a week of national mourning over the devastating earthquake, with hopes fading of finding more survivors in the rubble of ruined buildings.
The tempo and urgency of rescue efforts have wound down in Mandalay, one of the worst-affected cities and the country’s second-largest, with more than 1.7 million inhabitants. However, with communications down in much of Myanmar, the true scale of the disaster has yet to emerge and the death toll is expected to rise significantly.
Sharif expressed his confidence in the resilience of the people of Myanmar and hoped that they would soon overcome this natural calamity, according to his office.
The Myanmar junta chief thanked the prime minister and the people of Pakistan for “standing with the people of Myanmar in this hour of need.”
At least 19 deaths have also been confirmed hundreds of kilometers away in Thailand’s capital Bangkok, where the force of Friday’s quake caused a 30-story, under-construction tower block to collapse.
Pakistan plans to expel 3 million Afghans from the country this year
- It’s the latest phase of a nationwide crackdown launched to expel foreigners living in Pakistan illegally
- The expulsion campaign has drawn fire from rights groups, the Taliban government and the United Nations
PESHAWAR: Pakistan plans to expel 3 million Afghans from the country this year, as a deadline for them to voluntarily leave the capital and surrounding areas expired on Monday.
It’s the latest phase of a nationwide crackdown launched in October 2023 to expel foreigners living in Pakistan illegally, mostly Afghans. The campaign has drawn fire from rights groups, the Taliban government, and the UN
Arrests and deportations were due to begin April 1 but were pushed back to April 10 because of the Eid Al-Fitr holidays marking the end of Ramadan, according to government documents seen by The Associated Press.
About 845,000 Afghans have left Pakistan over the past 18 months, figures from the International Organization for Migration show.
Pakistan says 3 million Afghans remain. Of these, 1,344,584 hold Proof of Registration cards, while 807,402 have Afghan Citizen Cards. There are a further 1 million Afghans who are in the country illegally because they have no paperwork.
Pakistan said it will make sure that Afghans do not return once deported.
Authorities wanted Afghan Citizen cardholders to leave the capital Islamabad and Rawalpindi city by March 31 and return to Afghanistan voluntarily or be deported.
Those with Proof of Registration can stay in Pakistan until June 30, while Afghans bound for third-country resettlement must also leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31.
Authorities have said they will work with foreign diplomatic missions to resettle Afghans, failing which they will also be deported from Pakistan.
Tens of thousands of Afghans fled after the Taliban takeover in 2021. They were approved for resettlement in the US through a program that helps people at risk because of their work with the American government, media, aid agencies, and rights groups.
However, President Donald Trump paused US refugee programs in January and 20,000 Afghans are now in limbo.
The Taliban want Afghan refugees to return with dignity
“No Afghan officials to be made part of any committee or formal decision-making process,” one of the documents said about the expulsion plans.
A spokesman for Afghanistan’s Refugee Ministry, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, told The Associated Press that Pakistan was taking decisions arbitrarily, without involving the UN refugee agency or the Taliban government.
“We have shared our problems with them, stating that unilaterally expelling refugees is neither in their interest nor ours,” said Haqqani. “It is not in their interest because expelling them in this way raises hatred against Pakistan.
“For us, it is natural that managing so many Afghans coming back is a challenge. We have requested they should be deported through a mechanism and mutual understanding so they can return with dignity.”
Two transit stations will be set up in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to help with deportations. One will be in Nasir Bagh, an area in the Peshawar suburbs. The second will be in the border town of Landi Kotal, some 7 kilometers from the Torkham crossing.
Afghans are unsure of their future in a country they don’t know
It is not clear what will happen to children born in Pakistan to Afghan parents, Afghan couples with different document types, and families where one parent is a Pakistani citizen and the other is Afghan. But officials indicated to the AP that social welfare staff will be on hand to help with such cases.
Omaid Khan, 30, has an Afghan Citizen Card while his wife has Proof of Registration. According to Pakistani government policy, he has to leave but his wife can stay until June 30. Their two children have no documents, including passports or identity cards from either country.
“I am from Paktia province but I have never been there and I am not sure about my future,” he said.
Nazir Ahmed was born in the southwest Pakistani city of Quetta and has never been to Afghanistan. His only connection to the country was through his father, who died in Quetta four years ago.
“How can we go there?” said Ahmed, who is 21. “Few people know us. All our relatives live in Quetta. What will we do if we go there? We appeal to the Pakistani government to give us some time so we can go and find out, at least get some employment.”
