Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement the ban preventing the country’s airlines from flying to the UK had been rescinded, meaning Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) can now resume flights.

“With more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK, and thousands of British nationals in Pakistan, today’s announcement brings long-awaited relief and new opportunities for families and friends to reunite,” said Shariff, who added the UK was the country’s third-largest trading partner.

The UK banned airlines from Pakistan following a series of incidents and the revelation that some PIA pilots had taken bribes to sit exams for new entrants. The British High Commission in Islamabad said: “Following air safety improvements, the UK’s Air Safety Committee has lifted UK restrictions on Pakistani carriers.”

However, PIA must yet obtain the necessary CAA permissions before it resumes flights. The European Union lifted its ban in January, with PIA resuming services to Paris in that month.

In February, PIA secured summer 2025 slots at Heathrow from Vietnam Airlines to re-start flights to Karachi and Lahore. PIA’s reappearance in the UK will mean British Airways is likely to face competition on its Islamabad service, while Gulf carriers offering indirect routes to Pakistan will also be affected.

PIA is also undergoing a privatisation process, with four bidders emerging. Only one, Airblue, a privately-run Pakistani airline, is from the industry, with others having interests in cement and fertiliser.