Islamabad, 22 October 2021 (TDI): Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan International Airline (PIA), Air Marshal Arshad Malik, met a delegation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The meeting took place on 21 October at PIA Head Office, Islamabad. The delegation was led by NATO’s Senior Civil Representative to Afghanistan, Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo, and Belgian ambassador to Pakistan, Philippe Bronchain.
It was wonderful to see @amarshadmalik and thank him for #PIA’s dedication and invaluable assistance in uplifting people from #Kabul. #PIA is among the few airlines who fly yo #Afghanistan. And congrats on the excellent performance of PIA worldwide. From you I expected no less. https://t.co/3w1kwlgUmF
— Stefano Pontecorvo (@pontecorvoste) October 21, 2021
The meeting marked a discussion of matters of mutual interest. The two sides also exchanged views on developments in Afghanistan. The visiting delegation thanked PIA for assisting in evacuation operations from Kabul and also acknowledged PIA’s excellent performance worldwide.
It is pertinent to note here that PIA is the first airline to conduct commercial international flight operations, on 13 September, to Afghanistan post-Taliban took over. Earlier, on 14 October, PIA announced to suspend its flight operations to Kabul till the ground situations improved.
The CEO of PIA, Arshad Malik, welcomed the NATO delegation. Moreover, he assured the delegation of PIA’s ‘full support for the humanitarian cause’. Consequentially, PIA is expected to start special flight operations to evacuate people of some European and NATO countries.
Additionally, the NATO delegation held meetings with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary and Chief of Army Staff during its visit to Pakistan.
