Monitoring Desk
Prime Minister Imran Khan has inaugurated AirSial, the third private airline of Pakistan, being owned and operated by the Sialkot’s business community.
Speaking to the business community after the inauguration ceremony in eastern city of Sialkot on Wednesday, the prime minister said that the airline was an “excellent initiative” which will create much-needed competition for the Pakistan International Airlines. Furthermore, it will benefit the business community in Sialkot, which the premier believed was on its way to becoming “Pakistan’s centre of exports”.
He congratulated the Sialkot community for building an airport with funds collected from the city alone and expressed hope that the businessmen will run the airline efficiently.
He noted that Pakistan’s economy, like the rest of the world, had suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic and said that even though there was pressure to impose a blanket lockdown, the government managed to protect people’s livelihoods and lives.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI says the government will extend full facilitation to the business community for industrialization and enhancement of exports.@MoIB_Official @PakPMO https://t.co/fhRBWLqbwJ pic.twitter.com/u4BaL9yu1J
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) December 9, 2020
“This was a very difficult task as there was constant criticism directed at me for not imposing a blanket lockdown. It is sad that the same opposition that criticised me for not imposing a blanket lockdown […] is now holding public meetings and gatherings even though corona cases are rising,” the prime minister said.
He said that if the country gets through the second wave safely, it would be able to protect its people and businesses. The premier commended Minister for Industries Azhar and special adviser Dawood for keeping in touch with the business community and keeping the government informed of the challenges being faced by businessmen.
With its current fleet of three Airbus A320-200s, Air Sial will operate flights to and from Sialkot, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.
Air Sial, a licensed airline, is the brainchild of members of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry who launched the project after the success of their earlier initiative, the Sialkot International Airport Ltd.
The airline’s operations will initially rely on three Airbus A320-200s, which have been leased from AerCap, the world’s largest independent aircraft leasing company, based in Dublin, Ireland.
The privately owned airline was granted permission to run its operations by the Aviation Division in 2017. It also plans to launch flights to foreign destinations.
