Biman Bangladesh Airlines to launch direct flights to Karachi

Biman Bangladesh Airlines to launch three flights a week to Karachi route very soon

Direct air travel between Bangladesh and Pakistan is going to resume. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Iqbal Hussain Khan has said that Biman Bangladesh Airlines will launch three flights a week to Karachi route very soon. This initiative is being seen as an important step to increase trade and connectivity in South Asia.

The media says that Iqbal Hussain Khan gave this information to the media ‘The News’ while delivering a lecture at the Foreign Services Academy on Wednesday. Recently, a new lecture series has started at the academy for foreign diplomats. Young Pakistani diplomats undergoing training there are getting the opportunity to discuss directly with ambassadors of different countries.

In response to a question at the event, the Bangladesh High Commissioner said, ‘Yes, we are starting direct flights with Pakistan. Our national airline will operate three flights a week to Karachi.’

When asked about the use of Indian airspace, he said that just as Indian aircraft use Bangladeshi airspace, Biman’s flights will also fly over India.

Sources said that due to India’s ongoing airspace ban on Pakistan, there is no possibility for the Pakistani airline to start flights on the Dhaka route right now. Earlier, the Bangladeshi High Commissioner gave a detailed speech to young diplomats and participated in a question and answer session.

He said that while there is a huge scope for trade, connectivity and cooperation in South Asia, limited access, border complications and regional politics are holding back economic progress. The High Commissioner said that there is a huge scope for increasing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh, but limited access is the biggest obstacle. He mentioned that in the past, it was easy to transport goods between the two countries by rail. However, now Pakistani dates reach the regional market via Dubai.

He said that if they can reach the market directly, traders will benefit more and farmers’ income will also increase. Citing the example of the century-old pashmina industry of Kashmir, he said that trade in traditional products like dates and pashmina could increase manifold if direct routes were provided.

He cited weak geographical connectivity as the biggest obstacle to the development of South Asia. However, ancient trade routes from Kabul, Peshawar, Dhaka to Myanmar were once active. He said that no country can progress alone, so regional cooperation is the only way. He mentioned BIMSTEC as an important regional initiative.

According to him, colonial mentality, ideological dominance and the tendency to spread influence weaken regional organizations. He said that the young generation of South Asia is more aware and hopeful for change than before. After the political changes in Bangladesh in 2024, new hope has been created in the youth society.

High Commissioner Iqbal Hussain Khan said, ‘If new leadership is formed, new paths for economic progress will open up and old barriers will be broken. Despite artificial limitations, people want to come closer to each other. Over time, the democratic process will become stronger and better leadership will be created.

Khabar Geo News