On Sunday, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) started up again direct flights to China from Pakistan by resuming the Beijing-Islamabad route.
At 6:45 a.m., the first flight, PK-854, departed from the airport in Islamabad and arrived in Beijing at 2:55 p.m. Later in the evening, this plane will return to Islamabad.
After a break of more than 2.5 years, business was once again conducted between the two capitals. In February 2020, the final PIA flight along this route took off.
China banned practically all incoming international flights in March 2020 because of concerns that tourists from other countries would start a coronavirus outbreak.
Since Pakistan is Beijing’s only all-weather strategic partner of China and the two nations have mutual interests and collaboration in a number of areas, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has granted PIA permission to resume operations.
Additionally, the flight will make it easier for Chinese workers on several CPEC-related projects in Pakistan.