Direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh are expected to resume soon, as announced by Dhaka’s Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan, S M Mahbubul Alam.
The announcement was made during his visit to the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI), located about 170 km northeast of Karachi.
Alam also extended an invitation to Pakistan’s business community to attend the Annual Trade Exhibition in Dhaka, scheduled for January 2025.
He assured that the visa process would be streamlined to facilitate the participation of business representatives.
The announcement follows a significant development in bilateral trade.
In mid-November, the first direct cargo vessel from Karachi docked at Chittagong port in Bangladesh, a move that officials described as a major step forward in trade relations.
The news comes months after the ousting of Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and the installation of an interim government under Muhammad Yunus.
Alam stated that the resumption of direct flights between the two nations would further strengthen ties, particularly between their business communities.
The last direct flight between Pakistan and Bangladesh was in 2018. Discussions about reintroducing direct flights and easing visa processes were held in September 2024 between Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, and Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
Alam further emphasised that Prime Minister Yunus had underscored the importance of capitalising on opportunities to enhance trade with Pakistan.
Muhammad Saleem Memon, President of HCSTSI, highlighted the historical, cultural, and trade ties between the two nations, noting the significant progress in trade, particularly following the successful direct cargo shipment from Pakistan to Bangladesh on 11 November.
Memon encouraged Bangladeshi traders to participate in exhibitions in Pakistan and urged the High Commission to support Pakistani traders in attending expos in Bangladesh.
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