ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Pakistan has granted Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, permission to begin direct passenger flights between Dhaka and Karachi, a move widely seen as a practical marker of improving ties after years of thin air connectivity.
Officials familiar with the approval say the route has been cleared on a trial basis, with the airline expected to finalise scheduling and operational paperwork in line with Pakistan’s civil aviation requirements before services begin in full.
The restoration of a Dhaka to Karachi link matters beyond symbolism. Karachi remains Pakistan’s largest commercial hub, and direct flights can cut travel time for business travellers, students, families and medical visitors who have often relied on indirect routings through Gulf transit points.
Aviation watchers say early indications point to a limited weekly frequency at the outset, reflecting a cautious restart rather than an immediate scale-up, as airlines test demand, price sensitivity and operational reliability on the sector.
The decision follows months of discussion about rebuilding people-to-people links and easing movement, alongside quieter efforts to expand trade and logistics channels between the two countries.
For both governments, direct flights offer a low-risk, high-visibility signal: a concrete service that can grow gradually if demand holds, while providing an early confidence-building win in a relationship that has often moved in small, incremental steps.∎
