Karachi (TDI): Direct air travel between Pakistan and Bangladesh has officially resumed after a 14-year break, as the latter’s national airline operated its first flight to Karachi on Thursday. The aircraft landed at Jinnah International Airport, where it was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute.
According to Pakistan’s High Commission in Dhaka, the inaugural flight departed fully booked from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Senior officials from both countries were present to see off the flight, including Bangladesh’s Adviser for Civil Aviation and Tourism Sheikh Bashiruddin and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider.
In a statement, the High Commission described the resumption of direct flights as an important step toward improving connectivity and strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
Addressing the ceremony, Sheikh Bashiruddin highlighted the importance of the Dhaka–Karachi route in boosting tourism, improving people-to-people contact, and enhancing overall connectivity. He said the national airline plans to gradually increase flight frequency and lower fares to make travel more accessible. He also expressed optimism that Bangladeshi travelers would visit Pakistan to experience its landscapes, culture, and cuisine.
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Pakistan’s high commissioner, speaking at the event, referred to the shared vision of Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to improve ties between the two countries. He noted that during Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka in August last year, both sides agreed to take swift steps to restore direct air links.
Bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have seen renewed momentum in recent months. Cargo shipping between Karachi and Bangladesh’s main port of Chittagong resumed in November 2024, leading to increased trade activity.
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Cultural exchanges have also picked up, with Pakistani artists performing in Dhaka and Bangladeshi patients traveling to Pakistan for medical treatment, reflecting a broader warming of ties between the two countries.
