INTERNATIONAL

AUGUST 2021

Gulf Air appoints AirLog Pakistan as its GSA for Cargo in Pakistan

“We are very proud and excited to be selected by Cargo as their GSA for Pakistan, and look forward to working with the Gulf Air Cargo team to provide a full range of cargo services to the freight community across Pakistan,” comments Imran Peracha, MD AirLog Pakistan.

AUGUST 2021 - 3 I n t e r n a t i o n a l a v i a t i o n

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By Abdul Sattar Azad Phone 34615924 Fax 34615924 Printed by Sardar Sons

4 - AUGUST 2021 Vol 28 AUGUST 2021 No.10

CAA defends decision to outsource its testing, licensing exam system to UK06 Emerging trends in the aviation industry 08 Gulf Air appoints AirLog Pakistan as its GSA for Cargo in Pakistan 09 Etihad says it's on its way to recovery 06 PIA Pilot hailed for dealing with crisis-like situation at Kabul airport 10 AI tools employed for speedy cargo clearance 12 13 prepares to take delivery of its 3rd rare A330neo 13 Saudi Arabia set to accept IATA Travel Pass for all passengers 16 UK Supreme Court rules in favour of PIA in key duress case 17 One year on, hopes for lifting of EU curbs on PIA flights fade 19 PIFFA certificate award ceremony 2021 held 20 Airlines start checking vaccination certificates of passengers 23 No plan to privatise PIA: Sarwar 23 Small is Sexy: Which airlines operate the Embraer ERJ135? 24 Seven killed as desperate Afghans cling to plane 25 Teenager takes to the skies on round-the-world record bid 25 Punjab govt to launch air ambulance service 26 ACAAP hosts receiption in honour of its Chairman 27 Pakistan becomes smartphone exporter 30 Pakistan, Uzbekistan pledge to boost ties in all sectors 32 20 Dawood urges increase in regional trade 33 Chinese ban on nine firms hits Pakistan`s fish exports 34 Iran president has decided to open six more border trade routes, says Sanjrani 36 Saudi Arabia to reopen borders for vaccinated Umrah pilgrims 39 US eases travel restrictions for Pakistan 40 Ban on people`s entry to Neelum angers tourism industry 41 Pakistanies celebrate Independence Day with national zeal 43 27

AUGUST 2021 - 5 CAA defends decision to outsource its testing, licensing exam system to UK

he Civil Aviation Authority Airlines, he downplayed the question and Flight of UAE-bound passengers defended on Wednesday said that PIA was the national carrier and When his attention was drawn TAugust 11 the decision to its total losses were the responsibility of towards the problems being faced by outsource its testing and licensing exam the government. Dubai-bound passengers, he said the UAE system to the United Kingdom saying that He said that the CAA had introduced a government wanted a passenger's rapid the move aimed at rebuilding the global recovery unit that was following and PCR test result, sample for which was confidence in Pakistani pilots. taking action against airlines in case of taken four hours before the flight “Whatever had happened was delay in payment of dues. departure. unfortunate, but it is not that easy to build international confidence,” CAA director general Khaqan Murtaza told a press conference at the authority's headquarters here. Mr Murtaza was referring to last year's episode when Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had told the National Assembly that 40 per cent of Pakistani pilots possessed dubious licences. Following his statement, various international bodies, foreign carriers and countries imposed curbs on the country in view of safety concerns. 'This outsourcing will be for two to three years' The CAA chief, however, insisted that the outsourcing of commercial/airline transport pilot licence to the UK Civil Aviation Authority was a temporary arrangement. The CAA chief insisted that the outsourcing of commercial/airline transport pilot licence to the UK Civil Aviation Authority was a temporary arrangement. “We will not disband our licensing system,” he said. “This outsourcing will be for two to three years.” About the exam process, he said that all exams would be conducted in Pakistan by the UK CAA on the pattern of the O/A Level examination conducted by the British Council on behalf of Cambridge International. “Our kids will not have to go abroad [for exams]. Answering a question about increasing the cost of the exam for the potential candidates, he said that it was proposed that the CAA would provide some subsidy to candidates appearing for the first time in the initial level of testing. Mr Murtaza conceded that the outsourcing plan had hit a delay because of the involvement of payment of foreign exchange by the CAA to the UK. “There's a delay because of financial issues and it requires approval from the federal cabinet.” Against the backdrop of suspension of licence of private carrier Shaheen International Airlines (SAI), Mr Murtaza said that the SAI collected CAA charges from passengers but instead of paying the charges “laundered” the huge sum abroad. When asked whether a repeat of the SAI-like situation that was allegedly a failure of the CAA's oversight role was possible, he said that currently no “private airline” was heading towards default. About Pakistan International

6 - AUGUST 2021 AUGUST 2021 - 07 He said that the condition was was in the process of facilitating them. expansion of the runway of Skardu airport, imposed for only passengers going to the He said that most laboratories did not have feasibility study for extending the Gilgit UAE and not on transit passengers. He required equipment and they informed the airport runway for jet aircraft operations said that around 90 per cent of the CAA that they had placed orders but or sighting of a new location for Gilgit passengers from Karachi airport were shipment would take at least 10-11 days. airport, extension of the runway of Saidu going to Dubai as transit passengers, but Tourism promotion Sharif airport to make it jet-aircraft the situation was worrisome at Peshawar Earlier, briefing reporters on the capable and construction of new Gwadar and Islamabad airports where 90pc Tourism Promotion and Regional international airport. passengers were going to the UAE. Integration (TPRI) licence for adventure, He said that for the promotion of Mr Murtaza said that the facility was medical and religious tourism, a CAA tourism activities, the existing runways of being provided at Sialkot airport, which official said that the licensees would also Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot had also was a relatively small airport with low be authorised to conduct helicopter been rehabilitated. He stated that the CAA flight frequency. services in addition to the fixed-wing was open to facilitating any investor to He said that the UAE authorities had aircraft. help in building new private landing strips communicated a list of labs conducting The official said that the CAA had and helipads. rapid PCR tests at the airport and the CAA initiated new projects, including Emerging trends in the aviation industry footprints aircraft leave behind. Therefore, Digital Vaccination Visas and Health the aviation industry has seen the need for Passports an eco-friendlier approach to . Although leveraging sustainable approaches may require extensive research and development, its outcome benefits the world for a long time. Fortunately, original equipment manufacturers create more fuel-efficient aircraft frames, leveraging lighter materials, aerodynamic design changes, and alternative fuel sources such as The COVID-19 pandemic triggered biofuels. Furthermore, air and ground a surge of technological advancement in traffic management adopt human and the aviation industries and other sectors. artificial intelligence and electrically- While health and immunity passports Given that air travel was affected in the powered equipment to promote aren't new to travelers, various initiatives previous year, it becomes essential to sustainability. have been adopted to create digital health revive the industry to ensure passenger Cryptocurrency as a Payment Option passports in the world. The CommonPass safety. For this reason, many airlines have Many industries are adopting adopted innovative technology to project was established in 2019 after a cryptocurrency as an alternative payment partnership between the Common Project, maximize comfort and improve the travel option. Although it is not yet prominent in a coalition of private and public partners, experience. That said, here are some the aviation sector, bitcoin and other and the World Economic Forum. This emerging trends in the aviation industry. cryptocurrencies show tremendous The Move Towards Sustainability potential. Fortunately, the industry loves platform verifies vaccination records and innovative technology and will adopt lab results by encouraging passengers to those that show great promise. Moreover, upload their results to their mobile phones. leveraging this innovative payment option Moreover, the IATA has released the will make flight bookings easier for air Travel Pass app to help passengers convey travelers. Additionally, cryptocurrency their test results to borderline authorities payments are faster and incur fewer and airlines. It also allows governments to transaction costs as compared to credit verify the genuineness of vaccination card payments. proofs and passengers' identities. Besides, its digital nature will work Furthermore, the European Union has well with the industry's objectives of introduced digital COVID-19 certificates providing digital technology for to facilitate free and safe movements amid Despite the negative impact of the passengers before, during, and after the the pandemic. Therefore, passengers who pandemic, the world experienced a journey. Therefore, digital payment is in decline in pollution. Having fewer aircraft wish to skip quarantine must obtain this order, as many airlines have already digital health passport proof of their tests, in the sky has reduced the carbon in the introduced digital check-in options, atmosphere, leading to a cleaner air vaccination, and recovery. tickets, and flight management. What's Many innovative trends are expected supply. Moreover, the International Air more, airlines like PrivateFly and airBaltic to develop as technological advancement Transport Association (IATA) predicts have already embraced cryptocurrency as that air travel numbers could double by a payment option. Fortunately, passengers increases. Therefore, you can look out for 2038, affecting the environment if steps can learn more about it to make their travel more procedures to make air travels less are not taken to reduce the carbon experience less stressful. stressful and more enjoyable.

08 - AUGUST 2021 Gulf Air appoints AirLog Pakistan as its GSA for Cargo in Pakistan

Gulf Air Airbus A321neo artist impression freight to dangerous goods and valuable Imran Peracha, MD AirLog Pakistan, cargo as well as live animals. GF operates “Our customers will have one-stop access direct flights from seven cities across to a wide range of air cargo transportation Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, products and the extensive network of Mr. Imran Peracha Managing Director AirLog Sialkot, Faisalabad, Peshawar, and destinations served by GF.” Pakistan. Multan to Bahrain and beyond to Middle With a network of 88 offices in 48 irLog Pakistan, a part of the East, Europe, Africa and Asia. countries across 6 continents, Air Air Logistics Group, has “We are very proud and excited to be Logistics Group can provide customized been appointed as cargo A selected by Gulf Air Cargo as their GSA cargo solutions across the globe, including GSA for Gulf Air Cargo (GF) in Pakistan, expert sales, creative marketing, efficient effective August 15. for Pakistan, and look forward to working Gulf Air has a large fleet of aircraft with the Gulf Air Cargo team to provide a operations, exceptional customer service and can carry a wide variety of products, full range of cargo services to the freight and dedicated accounting, all supported ranging from perishables and oversized community across Pakistan,” comments by advanced business intelligence tools. Etihad says it's on its way to recovery

tihad Airways has announced Abu Dhabi green list or UAE travel operating and financial results corridors, we are seeing a three to six-fold Efor the first half of 2021, jump in bookings in some cases, showing showing a progressive recovery across its there is a tidal wave of demand waiting to business despite a slower than expected be unleashed. We are ready to welcome return to global air travel. The airline more guests on board to experience why carried one million passengers in H1 Etihad is second to none when it comes to 2021, with an average seat load factor of ensuring passenger wellbeing.” 24.9 percent. This represents an average Throughout the first half of 2021, 10% month-on-month growth in Etihad retained a singular focus on cost passenger volumes since Etihad restarted control, decreasing operating costs by 27 passenger operations in July 2020. billion, down by 68 percent year-on-year percent year-on-year from US$1.9 billion Network capacity in the first half of 2021 from US$1 billion. However, the dip in to US$1.4 billion, supported by reduced came in at 16.4 billion ASKs, and has passenger revenue was offset by strong capacity and volume-related expenses. grown steadily since the start of the year, performance in cargo operations, with a 44 Fixed overhead costs saw a significant with the airline operating almost 3,500 percent year-on-year increase in freight improvement, reducing by 22 percent to flights a month to 67 passenger and cargo carried in H1 2021 (365,500 tonnes) and a US$0.3 billion, while finance costs destinations by the end of June 2021. 56 percent year-on-year increase in reduced by 22 percent owing to an ongoing Since the beginning of 2021, Etihad has revenue (US$0.8 billion). balance sheet deleveraging. As a result, the launched or restarted operations to 10 airline managed to rebuild its liquidity destinations including the historic launch Tony Douglas, group CEO, said: “Every day, is making up position to pre-pandemic levels. of scheduled services to Tel Aviv in April Overall, Etihad recorded a core 2021. for lost ground. Despite the curveball of the Delta variant disrupting the global operating loss of US$0.4 billion for H1 As a result of new variants of the recovery in air travel, we have continued 2021 (half the loss of US$0.8 billion in H1 coronavirus affecting key travel markets to ramp up operations and are today in a 2020), with EBITDA turning to a positive in the Indian Sub-Continent and Europe, much better place than this time in 2020. US$0.1 billion from a negative US$ 0.1 passenger revenue came in at US$0.3 As soon as destinations are added to the billion in the same period of 2020.

AUGUST 2021 - 09 Traffic through Afghan airspace is PIA Pilot hailed for CAA allows Air lower than usual because of reduced demand due to COVID-19. States near dealing with crisis- Arabia to operate Afghanistan have indicated they can accommodate additional traffic. The use of alternative routes through these states like situation at four flights a week will support safe and secure operations, but will have time, operational and fuel Kabul airport he Pakistan Civil Aviation impacts upon airlines. Authority (PCCA) has granted akistan International Airlines Tpermission to of Cargo Abu Dhabi to operate four flights to and (PIA) Chief Executive Officer from Faisalabad and Multan in a week. and Delta Cargo PArshad Malik has praised In a letter to the company, the PCAA Captain Maqsood Bajrani for bringing a said the competent authority was pleased PIA flight from Kabul during a crisis-like to authorise Air Arabia of Abu Dhabi to extend dnata situation recently. operate four flights to and from Faisalabad “In a crisis situation, the use of and Multan in a week. partnership in the understanding, experience and skills is a Two flights would be operated sign of a real professional,” the PIA CEO between Abu Dhabi and Multan and two U.K. others between Abu Dhabi and Faisalabad, said. it said. He said as soon as the situation in Meanwhile, the PCAA has issued a Kabul deteriorated, the captain contacted Covid-19 guideline for safe tourism in the PIA management. country with continuing travel restrictions Captain Bajrani of Airbus A320 was in addition to random restricted air travel waiting to get clearance from Air Traffic (RAT) for inbound passengers, if the Control when the Taliban took control of Gilgit-Baltistan government considered it important to ensure safe tourism. Afghanistan on Sunday 15 August. “Take The PCAA had already revised the your own decision,” one of the cabin crew guideline which took effect from July 1 on said following which Captain Bajrani of air travel to Gilgit-Baltistan as no boarding PIA flight PK6252 chose to take off for would be allowed to passengers over 30 irgin Atlantic Cargo and Islamabad. years of age without valid Covid-19 Delta Cargo will continue vaccination certificates. While emergency had been declared ground handling and export Foreign tourists, mountaineers and V at the airport as thick black smoke services from the joint London Heathrow emitting from the surrounding hills could trekkers on flights to Gilgit-Baltistan will continue to ensure compliance with all hub and Manchester Airport ©Delta be seen from the plane, the PIA Airbus relevant SOPs, including policy on Cargo A320 was kept on hold. international inbound passengers. Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta A crew member said the captain Cargo have extended their long-standing promptly decided to take off after making IATA comment on partnership with dnata for a further five a surprise announcement that they were years, continuing the successful operation ready to take off for Islamabad. She said Afghanistan of ground handling and export services soon afterwards the plane started moving from the joint London Heathrow hub and with high speed to take off, it was because airspace situation Manchester Airport. The partnership also the captain was following two fighter includes regional cargo gateways London planes running ahead of the PIA plane as Gatwick, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Safe and secure flight operations are Edinburgh and Newcastle. he thought it better to follow them. the top priority for aviation. In this respect, The crew took a sigh of relief when IATA is closely monitoring developments In conjunction with the partnership the captain informed them that they had in Afghanistan. extension, the Virgin Atlantic Cargo and entered into the territory of Pakistan. The Owing to recent developments, the Delta Cargo teams will continue to work from the dnata City East facility. The plane landed at Islamabad International Kabul FIR (Afghanistan airspace) which airlines' cargo operational and customer Airport at about 7.10pm on Sunday. serves major traffic flows between Europe and Asia, is now without provision of a teams have so far benefited from working As the plane landed at the airport and civilian Air Traffic Service. Airlines have under one roof, sharing ways of working its door opened, a PIA staff member came advised IATA that they are avoiding the to support significant growth for the cargo on to the plane and told the crew that he airspace. sectors of the two carriers in the last year. had an important note for the captain from IATA is participating in the Virgin Atlantic and Delta Cargo are the CEO. International Civil Aviation Organization also set to take advantage of the brand new In his message, the CEO praised (ICAO) Coordinated Contingency Coordination Team (CCT) which has been import facility, dnata City East Phase 2, Captain Bajrani for bringing the flight later this year. The building will provide from Kabul after the situation activated. This standard protocol for managing such situations combines the an additional 117,000 ft² in an adjacent deteriorated, as he flew safely in adverse resources of ICAO and IATA in the regions state of the art building, as the two carriers conditions after informing the PIA involved, all affected States, and continue to support vital supply chains management. Eurocontrol. across the globe.

10 - AUGUST 2021 AUGUST 2021 - 11 teenage high school students traveling on AI tools employed American Airlines Flight 893 from Charlotte to Nassau (NAS) were non- c o m p l i a n t w i t h f e d e r a l m a s k for speedy cargo first class passenger requirements. American Airlines says they became disruptive to other customers and clearance taped to seat after refused to follow crew member's instructions while onboard. As a result, inflight incident American Airlines removed the students a k i s t a n C u s t o m s h a s from the plane. However, the flight was i n t r o d u c e d a r t i f i c i a l delayed overnight in Charlotte as a result. Pintelligence and machine- n the latest of a series of high- learning tools in the Web-Based One profile disruptive passenger Customs (WeBOC) Risk Management incidents on American Airlines System in line with the international best I Woman kicked off recently, flight attendants duct-taped a practice with assistance of the World first class passenger to her seat after she Customs Organisation. physically attacked them and tried to open American flight for The July 2021 figures revealed that the plane's door. more than half of the import Flight attendants duct-taped a cursing at consignments and majority of export passenger to her seat on an American shipments are cleared by Customs Airlines flight. attendant immediately subject to post-clearance A series of high-profile disruptive verification, according to an official passenger incidents onboard American The unnamed American Airlines announcement issued on Tuesday 3 Airlines agent kept his cool while speaking to the August. Multiple media reports are circulating passenger. In addition to quick clearance of concerning American Airlines Flight An unnamed American Airlines agent exports shipments, WeBOC RMS AA1774 from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is being application has also been extended to duty to Charlotte (CLT) on Tuesday, July 6. The drawback processing through which a applauded on social media for his calm female passenger reportedly had an demeanor after coming face to face with a new mechanism of online payments of inflight mental breakdown. She assaulted duty drawback for disbursement directly woman who apparently cursed at a flight and bit a flight attendant and attempted to attendant during a mask dispute. to the accounts of the exporters by open the forward boarding door. slashing the manual processing and The incident was caught on video it eradicating traditional cheque system. On a different flight, AA2289, was posted on Twitter and showsed the operating between Los Angeles (LAX) This has become possible by agent speaking to the woman. and Miami (MIA), the flight crew ordered “Second of all, you called my introducing the scrutiny of duty drawback passengers to put their hands on their claims through risk parameters by e- employee a b----, completely uncalled for heads for nearly an hour before the plane and inappropriate,” the agent said. “We rebate module in RMS. So far Rs16 landed. Upon landing, police armed with billion have been paid through e-rebate don't tolerate that crap with us at all.” machine guns boarded the aircraft to arrest He told the woman that she was no system providing financial support in a passenger. times of global pandemic in line with longer welcome to fly American. current government policy. On Monday, July 5, a group of By systematic application of RMS, pre-arrival clearance at sea ports, clearance in sky at airports, and risk based selection of cargo for scanning under Blue channel have also been implemented which have modernised the customs clearance process in the country. Pakistan Customs is also working to develop an Integrated Risk management System (IRMS) through Pakistan Single Window the programme by which trade regulatory bodies will be processing the certifications through single integrated platform. This will bring the transformation in trading across the borders landscape and contribute immensely to the economic growth and national development of Pakistan. P a k i s t a n C u s t o m s u n d e r comprehensive Customs Reforms P r o g r a m m e h a s s u c c e s s f u l l y implemented a number of trade facilitation initiatives which have made cross border trade easier and have contributed significantly in reduction of the time and cost of doing business in country, added the announcement.

12 - AUGUST 2021 Kuwait Airways prepares to take delivery of its 3rd rare A330neo

To date, it has taken six test flights With Kuwait's travel restrictions to f the eight Airbus A330-800s with a total of 20 hours of flight time. For date, frequencies to these destinations Oordered by Kuwait Airways, reference, 9K-APF had a total of three test have been limited. However, the country the airline has so far taken delivery of two. flights totaling nine and a half hours, while has been progressively opening up, which However, its third widebody is set to be 9K-APG had five test flights totaling 13 will perhaps mean more flight time for delivered soon and has been undergoing hours. Kuwait Airways' A330neo fleet. final test flights in the past few weeks. The 9K-APH's most recent test flight was Of its existing destinations, flights to most recent test flight took place on on August 18th and London, Guangzhou, or Manila could suit lasted four hours and the A330-800 well. Once the airline 45 minutes. resumes its service to New York, the type D a t a f r o m would also fit well for it. This could also R a d a r B o x . c o m be the case for Bangkok in the east or showed that the jet Frankfurt and Milan up north. t o o k o f f f r o m With vaccination efforts ongoing in T o u l o u s e a n d Kuwait, the country is poised to open up headed to the Bay of more. This will allow the airline to lay on Biscay, flying circles more services and should, in turn, put its off the coast of La newly-delivered aircraft to good use. R o c h e l l e a n d Have you flown on the A330-800 Rochefort. yet? Share your experiences with us by Like the other - leaving a comment. 800s it will join, the jet is configured to have 32 seats in business class and Kuwait Airways is the largest customer of the 'rare' A330-800. 203 in economy. Pakistan However, it has only ordered eight. The flight path International The progress of 9K-APH of the most recent It was back in late October of 2020 flight of 9K-APH. that Kuwait Airways took delivery of its Where will this aircraft fly? Airlines to fine first two A330-800s. The shorter version To find out where this new A330-800 of the A330neo family, the -800, has only will fly, we only have to look at where the had orders for 15 of the jets, with over half two other A330neos have been deployed. (eight to be precise) going to Kuwait Cities thus far include: akistan International Airlines Airways. Amman (Jordan) P(PIA) decided to make After an extended lull, the third -800 Beirut (Lebanon) vaccination against the COVID-19 virus will soon be delivered to the Middle Bodrum (Turkey) mandatory for its employees. However, Eastern carrier. Although its test Chennai (India) Geo New Pakistan is reporting that since a registration is currently F-WWKU, the Cochin/Kochi (India) part of the airline's workforce refuses to aircraft is set to be registered as 9K-APH, Dhaka (Bangladesh) get their dose, the airline is taking more with its MSN set at 2005. serious measures to prevent its staff from Dubai (UAE) spreading the highly contagious Delta Here's what we know so far about Islamabad (Pakistan) 9K-APH with the help of data from AIB variant, which currently rages in the Family Flights: Istanbul (Turkey) country. L a h o r e The national air carrier of Pakistan (Pakistan) warned its employees that it will charge M u m b a i unvaccinated staff a fine of around $4 each (India) day, while other employees, including N e w D e l h i airline officers, would be fined $7 per day, (India) the local media reported. Paris (France) The air carrier requested staff to get Riyadh (Saudi vaccinated against the virus by August 13, Arabia) 2021, to escape daily fines. As you can The measure was taken while see, none of these observing continuously growing rates of destinations make COVID-19 infection in Pakistan. full use of the According to the National Institute of A 3 3 0 - 8 0 0 s Health data, half of the daily positive cases fantastic range. in the country are caused by the new strain. This is largely due As of August 10, 2021, the country to the global health reported 4,856 new virus cases and 81 The first delivery of the A330-800 to Kuwait Airways took place in last October 2020. crisis. new. AUGUST 2021 - 13 14 - AUGUST 2021 year to end of July, Russian airlines Russian airlines' collectively served 56.6 million Travel mask passengers, down 21.3 per cent on the traffic reaches 88 same period of 2019. The total RPKs for mandate extended seven months was 119.8 billion, down 34 per cent on the pre-crisis year. per cent of pre-crisis RUSSIAN AIRLINES COMBINED till January for TRAFFIC JANUARY JULY 2021, levels in July passengers (compared to January July planes, trains, 2019) (1) 10.86 mln 49.5% (2) 9.76 mln 3.4% buses (3) Pobeda 7.90 mln +41.3% (4) Rossiya 5.02 mln 24.0% (5) 4.86 mln 8.4% ravelers on airplanes, trains, buses and in airports and train Tstations should be prepared to Sharm El Sheikh continue to wear masks for holiday travel and into next year. receives first The Transportation Security n July this year Russian airlines' Administration will extend its travel mask combined traffic reached 12.5 EgyptAir flight mandate through Jan. 18 to "minimize the Imillion passengers, just 12 per spread of COVID-19 on public cent down on the same month of the pre- transportation," according to a Tuesday 17 COVID 2019, according to the recent from Moscow August statement from the agency. report by the country's aviation authority The news comes as the highly Rosaviatsiya. The Russian air travel harm El-Sheikh International contagious delta variant of COVID-19 market clearly continues on track of a Airport has received the first continues to sweep the nation, with mask steady recovery, reaching 88 per cent of EgyptAir flight coming from mandates returning to some destinations the pre-crisis levels past month, up from S 86.6 per cent in June, 81.3 per cent in May Moscow, with 297 Russian tourists on and mask sales climbing again. and 77 per cent in April. board. "The emerging evidence about the The total RPKs reached 23.1 billion, The plane was received by the Delta variant demonstrates it is more still 33.74 per cent below the 'normal' tradition of spraying water upon its arrival formidable than the original virus," the levels, due to severe international travel to Sharm El-Sheikh airport. Centers for Disease Control and restrictions. EgyptAir is scheduled to operate a Prevention said in a statement Tuesda 17 For the first time since the onset of regular route with three flights per week August. "Wearing a well-fitting mask that the crisis, Russia's largest airlines of the between Moscow and Sharm El-Sheikh covers your nose and mouth is a way to TOP-5 elite have all passed the on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays prevent germs from spreading between psychologically sensitive milestone of 1 using Airbus A330-300. yourself and other people." million monthly passengers. These airlines are accountable for nearly 65 per cent of the total traffic. In July, Russia's flag carrier Aeroflot served 2.5 million passengers for the first time, less than 50 per cent below its 'norm'. It is gradually stretching the lead from its closest competitor, privately- owned S7 Airlines, which carried 1.7 million passengers past month. Boasting an unbelievable 50 per cent growth compared to July 2019 results, Aeroflot's low-cost division Pobeda served 1.5 million passengers. Its sister airline carried 1.2 million passengers. The last of the TOP-5 ranking, Ural Airlines started a slow climb with 1.1 million passengers in July. Russian Airlines Combined Traffic July 2021, passengers (compared to July 2019) (1) Aeroflot 2.5 mln 32.2% (2) S7 Airlines 1.7 mln 12.4% (3) Pobeda 1.5 mln +50.0% (4) Rossiya 1.2 mln 21.0% (5) Ural Airlines 1.1 mln +2.7% In total, since the beginning of the

AUGUST 2021 -15 to encourage more inbound travelers. Saudi Arabia set to accept IATA Travel Like everyone else, Saudi Arabia didn't anticipate COVID-19 and its impact on air travel. Now, like everyone else, the Pass for all passengers Kingdom recognizes that digital travel passes will be part of the future of travel. If assengers arriving to or Saudi Arabia wants to get back on track departing from Saudi Arabia with its plans, simplifying entry and exit Pcan start using IATA's Travel procedures will be crucial. Pass to confirm pre-departure COVID-19 IATA believes its travel pass is part of test results from September 30. While that solution. IATA says their travel pass many airlines have trialed IATA's Travel will simplify and enhance compliance with Pass, Saudi Arabia joins just a handful of health requirements for travelers entering nations to start using it at their borders. Saudi Arabia and contribute to the safe restart of the travel and tourism industry. Travelers eyeing a trip to Saudi Arabia should check with the airline they are IATA's Travel Pass travels with you on your traveling with for eligibility to use the smartphone. Photo: IATA IATA Travel Pass. Travel pass one step in restoring international air travel PIA to start Rapid IATA's Travel Pass will supplement Saudi Arabia's homegrown national health app, Tawakkalna. Abdulaziz A. Al PCR tests at Duailej, Director-General of Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Sialkot airport Saudi Arabia will start accepting IATA'S Travel Aviation (GACA), says adopting the IATA Pass from September 30. Travel Pass is part of the country's drive to “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's adopt digital health certificates and restore ollowing restrictions from the acceptance of IATA Travel Pass will international connectivity. UAE authorities regarding demonstrate how digital solutions can “GACA is committed to supporting all FCovid-19 Rapid PCR/RTPCR tests, the Pakistan International Airline effectively manage both COVID-19 stakeholders to ease and facilitate air travel in an efficient and effective way by will start Rapid PCR tests at the Sialkot vaccine and test certificates,” said Willie adopting best international practices,” International Airport for passengers of Walsh, IATA's Director-General. “The GACA's Director-General says. “We are Dubai-bound flights. trust that the Kingdom of Arabia committed to drive the adoption of digital A PIA spokesman said that the has placed in IATA Travel Pass is an health certificates and restore national flag carrier has arranged special example for other governments to international air travel.” flights from Sialkot to Dubai on Aug 12 follow.” and 14 and Rapid PCR tests of passengers Saudi bound travelers still need will be conducted at the Sialkot airport. paper proof of vaccination status. He said in view of the tests, passengers are Saudi Arabia is open to most requested to arrive at the airport at least 5 vaccinated international visitors traveling hours in advance. on a tourism visa. Currently not making The UAE authorities have imposed a the cut are travelers coming from restriction of having Covid-19 Rapid PCR Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, testing for passengers within four hours Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, before flight departure at main concourse Pakistan, Turkey, South Africa, the halls located at the airports. United Arab , and Vietnam. Passengers must report 5-6 hours prior to departure at the Citi Lab Research Travelers from other countries, IATA wants Saudi Arabia to also start accepting including the United States and European their digital travel pass to prove vaccination status. & Diagnostic Centre desk and complete Union nations, must provide evidence of a Saudi Arabia's big air travel plans registration. They need to give samples full course of one of the three vaccines Inputs from Saudi's airline industry within 4 hours of flight departure and wait till 90 minutes for test results. After currently recognized. Those four contribute around 6% to Saudi Arabia's GDP, and this is anticipated to grow. Saudi receiving negative test results, passengers vaccines are Oxford/Astra Zeneca, will proceed to the check-in counter. Pfizer/BioNTech, or Moderna. Arabia has watched how its Gulf neighbors have developed their airlines Special discount: PIA has offered a Travelers arriving in Saudi Arabia special discount on purchase of domestic must also provide a negative PCR test into global names by harnessing the advantages of their location at the junction flight tickets for the eve of the taken no more than 72 hours before Independence Day. departure. From September 30, travelers of three continents. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz A PIA spokesman said the national can start flashing their IATA Travel Pass wants a slice of that pie and plans to flag carrier is offering a 14 per cent to show their test results coming to or develop Saudi Arabia into a significant air discount on domestic ticket purchases. going from Saudi Arabia. IATA hopes transit hub. The discounted tickets will be available Saudi Arabia will soon start accepting In addition, Saudi Arabia has from Tuesday onwards. vaccine results on their Travel Pass. For attempted to bolster inbound international He stated that the reduced tickets the time being, travelers will need to bring tourism. In 2019, the country relaxed its would be available for travel beginning an approved paper vaccination certificate. visa regime for tourists from 49 countries from Aug 14 till Aug 16, 2021. 16 -AUGUST 2021 UK Supreme Court rules in favour of PIA in key duress case

he United Kingdom Supreme agreed to accept new terms by which it it was done in good faith.” Court on Wednesday ruled in waived any claims it might have for the PIA spokesperson told media: “It's a Tf a v o u r o f P a k i s t a n previously unpaid commission. One of the major legal victory for PIA and a big International Airlines Corporation directors of TT had been shown a draft of decision in UK history clearly defining (PIAC) in an appeal filed by a travel the new agreement a few days beforehand agents rights and claims. PIA has been agency over a contract for tickets and but PIAC had refused his request to take a hearing good news in international courts commissions. copy with him in order to discuss it and recently as cases are now being pursued The issue put before the court was obtain legal advice. with full vigour and transparency.” what constitutes as economic duress, and TT subsequently brought a claim whether such duress can arise where against PIAC for the unpaid commission. lawful acts or threats are made by one It argued that it could rescind the new Skardu airport party in support of a demand which that agreement for lawful act economic duress. party genuinely believes it is entitled to The trial judge agreed but also found set to operate make. that PIAC had genuinely believed that the PIAC's legal counsel, solicitors at disputed commission was not due. The international Farani Taylor, said the ruling was a “huge Court of Appeal allowed PIAC's appeal as victory” for PIA that averted the loss of the airline had not acted in bad faith in that considerable amounts of money. sense. TT appealed to the Supreme Court, flights: Sarwar “If PIA had lost, the floodgates which dismissed the appeal saying that TT would open and all travel agents would cannot rescind the new agreement for ederal aviation minister withdraw contracts saying they were lawful act claiming economic duress. Ghulam Sarwar Khan has said under duress. This has averted a huge A summary of the judgement read, Finternational flights will be financial loss for PIA,” a solicitor said. “When it is alleged that a defendant has operated from the Skardu airport to boost The case was heard by Lord Reed, induced a claimant to enter into a contract tourism and trade activities in Gilgit- by duress, Lord Hodge and Lord Burrows president of the Supreme Court, Lord Baltistan. Hodge, deputy president of the apex agree that there are two essential elements court, as well as Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord that the claimant needs to establish to He said Skardu airport would have Kitchin and Lord Burrows. The hearings rescind the contract: (i) the threat or all-weather and nighttime flight took place on Nov 2 and 3 last year, with a pressure by the defendant must have been operations. judgement delivered on Wednesday, Aug illegitimate and (ii) the threat or pressure Talking tp media on Friday 6 August, 18. must have caused the claimant to enter the he said measures were being taken to The issue being considered by the contract. Economic duress also has a third exploit tourism potential in GB under the court was whether, and in what element: (iii) the claimant must have had vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. circumstances, a party can set aside a no reasonable alternative to giving in to Mr Sarwar said located at an altitude contract on the grounds that it was entered the threat or pressure. It is not in dispute of over 7,000 feet, the Skardu airport was into as a result of the other party that TT entered into the New Agreement as listed among the world's highest altitude threatening to do a lawful act. a result of PIAC's threats, and that it had no airports. reasonable alternative. This appeal solely The court outlined that Times Travel He said first time flights had started (TT) was a family-run travel agency concerns the first element: was PIAC's threat illegitimate.” from Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot whose business consisted almost and Faisalabad to Skardu. exclusively of selling plane tickets to and Farani Taylor said PIAC had contracts from Pakistan. with travel agencies, all of whom The aviation minister claimed that Skardu airport had become one of the PIAC was the sole operator of those demanded that they should get a flights. It allocated tickets to the travel commission on the fuel surcharge though busiest airports in Pakistan. agency and paid commission to TT for the it was not part of the existing agreement. Mr Sarwar said a notification would tickets it sold. This contractual “PIA said on these terms we will not be issued declaring Skardu airport as the arrangement could be terminated by renew your contract and serve a new international airport from next month. PIAC at one month's notice. contract with new terms,” Farhan Farani He said the airport's runway was A dispute arose in 2011 and 2012 said at a press conference. being expanded for wide-body aircraft when certain travel agents, including TT, Farani said that a new agreement was landing. alleged that PIAC had not been paying signed in 2012. However, he added that in "International chartered flights will them certain commission payments. the meanwhile a court of appeal in be allowed to Skardu airport," he added. Australia decided that commission can be Claims were brought to recover the Besides, he said nights from Lahore to unpaid commission. sought on fuel surcharge. “After that, the agents said they made the new contract Gilgit had also been started, and the Under pressure from PIAC, TT did number of daily flights from Islamabad not join those claims. under duress and that it should be rescinded so they can get all the had increased. However, in September 2012 PIAC commissions.” Ghulam Sarwar said a plan was afoot cut TT's normal fortnightly ticket Speaking to media, Farani said, “This to expand the Gilgit airport, adding allocation from 300 to 60 tickets, as it was options were being explored to construct a entitled to do, and gave notice that it has set out the boundaries for economic would terminate their existing duress for the future. It has wide ranging new airport in Gilgit. arrangement at the end of October 2012. ramifications in English law. After this, in He said a study was also being commercial negotiations one can use conducted to construct a bridge for landing This would have put TT out of whatever leverage they want to as long as business and so on Sept 24, 2012, TT of heavy aircraft at the Gilgit airport.

AUGUST 2021 -17 18 - AUGUST 2021 One year on, hopes for lifting of EU curbs on PIA flights fade

signing of the agreement and sorting out fter passing of one year, modalities. hopes for lifting of a ban on all Pakistan-registered However, the sources said the CAA A went ahead with its outsourcing move aircraft to enter European Union member without completing required formalities states as well as the United Kingdom have and now the Public Procurement been eroded after the global aviation Regulatory Authority (PPRA) had raised watchdog delayed this month's scheduled objections on the way exams were being safety audit of the Civil Aviation outsourced without following proper Authority (CAA) for an unspecified procurement procedures. period, it emerged recently. The sources said that after the fake In July 2020, the European Union “They [CAA authorities] are still licences issue, the CAA instead of quickly Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had pushing ICAO audit from July last year to fixing the challenges and coming out suspended the third country operator December, to March to July, then clean, first hid behind prosecuting the authorisation of the national flag carrier, November [2021] and now we don't have a culprits and then went without planning Pakistan International Airlines, to operate tentative date,” said a source. and approval of outsourcing the licensing flights in the EU member states for six “Covid is not the only reason of the exams. months due to safety concerns against the audit getting pushed back because during the same period PIA got audited by IATA “A new system development could backdrop of the May 22 Karachi plane have done it, but they took nearly a year to crash and the subsequent damning [International Air Transport Association] and IOSA [IATA Operational Safety decide what to do and then are in a limbo statement of Aviation Minister Ghulam because proper procedures were not Sarwar Khan that 40 per cent of Pakistani Audit]. These are periodic audits that one cannot and should not miss,” the source followed,” said another source. pilots possessed dubious licences. Ban causing huge revenue loss While the EASA ban is on the state of added. Officials said that the CAA did not get The sources said that PIA has been Pakistan because the aviation minister suffering huge revenue losses due to the used preliminary findings of an ongoing its biyearly ICAO audit for the past many years. “It has been getting it postponed EASA curbs for the past one year. It has investigation to point an accusing finger ever since. CAA bosses say that the people made some alternatives arrangements to towards the oversight role of the CAA in who got the last audit conducted were continue its flight operations to Europe testing and licensing of pilots, it's the PIA retired without sharing any knowledge. It's and the UK via third party, but it could not that has borne the brunt of the ban the not good for international bodies who mitigate the revenue losses due to the ban. most being the only Pakistani airline at demand reforms so that the system is not A senior PIA official, requesting that time operating flights to EU states breached regardless who is at the helm of anonymity, told media that the revenue and the United Kingdom. affairs,” said an official. loss was around Rs17bn during the one- While the PIA tried its best to get Besides, the sources said, the CAA year period. However, the total loss from provisional permission to operate flights was not losing much revenue because of the UK and European routes is estimated in EU states, the EASA in December the EASA ban, as the space vacated by PIA at around Rs2bn. extended the ban for additional three was immediately filled up by the British The losses could have been greater, months and made it clear that it would not Airways and Virgin Atlantic, who are but the PIA hired a Portuguese firm to be lifted without the safety audit of the making equal amount of landing/parking keep on operating on the UK and Paris CAA by the aviation watchdog charges to the regulator. routes with charter flights. International Civil Aviation Organisation Exams outsourcing hits snags “We could have never been in this (ICAO). The aviation sources told Dawn that mess had the aviation minister spoken The suspension was extended again the real problem lied in the CAA's testing wisely in the parliament a year ago,” from April for an indefinite period and and licensing system as the global aviation lamented a former CAA chief, who asked EASA linked any development with the industry as well as the ICAO lost trust not to be named. ICAO's safety audit of the CAA. following the aviation minister's statement “He [the minister] said licences of Doubts over CAA's seriousness and subsequent investigations into the 262 pilots were fake, but the The CAA said the ICAO's visit to fake pilots' licences saga. investigations proved that all licences Pakistan was earlier scheduled in the first They said the CAA had decided to were genuine and the discrepancies were week of July, but it was postponed due to outsource the conduct of all licensing in some written tests that a licensed pilot the Covid-19 situation in the country. exams, including commercial/airline takes for upgrade. The CAA cancelled transport pilot licence (CPL/ATPL), to the licences of 50 pilots and suspended 32 “We are working with ICAO...their UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) to visit to Pakistan was planned for July but others. This is nowhere near the minister's address the concerns of ICAO and EASA. figure of 262 pilots,” he said. it was postponed because of (Covid-19) They said the process was supposed About the unpreparedness of the pandemic, etc. We hope their visit would to be completed by April, but till now it take place somewhere in October or CAA in being audited, he said that the had not been finalised. For the past one incumbent and previous governments November if the pandemic situation in the year, all CPL/ATPL tests remained chose to run the CAA on an ad hoc basis as country gets improved,” CAA director suspended following the aviation they wanted to bifurcate the authority to general Khaqan Murtaza recently told an minister's statement. privatise airports and other assets. online forum. According to the CAA, it is in “Bringing improvement or even Aviation sources, however, cast consultation with the UK CAA and trying appointment of a dedicated director doubts over the seriousness of the to have a framework agreement but it general was never on their agenda. Hence regulator in being audited. would take two to three months after the mess,” he said.

AUGUST 2021 - 19 PIFFA certificate award ceremony 2021 held

certificate award ceremony for successful students of 31st Abatch of PIFFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding and 2nd batch of PIFFA FIATA Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management was held at PIFFA Training Institute Karachi on 30 June 2021. YIFFY (Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year) Global Award was also presented to the winner of the year 2020 contest, co-sponsored by FIATA & the TT Club. Mr. UmairAamir Sheikh from Pakistan, an alumni of PIFFA Training Institute won the award. Chairman PIFFA Mr. Muhammad Ilyas and President PIFFA Training Institute Mr. Izhar ul Haq Qamar was the Guests of Honor for the ceremony. Secretary General PIFFA Mr. Habibullah A. Latif several faculty members and trade media also witnessed the ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by Training Manager Mr. Riaz Iqbal. The every student was given the Mr. Riaz Iqbal, Manager Training hosting the function. opportunity to express his views about the tranning and the institute.

Chairman PIFFA, Mr Muhammad Ilyas, Mr. Izhar ul Haq Qamar president PIFFA Training Institute, Mr. Habibullah A. Latif Secretary General PIFFA and Mr. A. S. Azad Editor flyer International along with students listening National Anthem.

Group photo of students and teachers taken with PIFFA Chairman on the occasion

20 - AUGUST 2021 Chairman PIFFA and President Training Institute present Global award to the (R-L) Mr. Muhammad Ilyas Chairman PIFFA, Mr. Izhar ul Haq Qamar winner of the year 2020 contest, Co sponsored by FIATA & the TT Club, Mr. President PIFFA Training Institute and Mr. Habibullah A Latif Secretary Umair Aamir Sheikh. General PIFFA on dais on the occasion of certificate award ceremony.

AUGUST 2021 - 21 22 - AUGUST 2021 Airlines start checking vaccination LHC allows flying certificates of passengers activities at n this photograph taken on April boarding flights for failing to produce 26, 2018, airport officials take vaccination certificates. Of the eight, four Walton Airport part in a test rehearsal at the new were PIA passengers. I he Lahore High Court on Islamabad International Airport ahead of Meanwhile, the PIA and Shifa Friday 9 July allowed flying its official opening. International Hospital (SIH), Islamabad, The airlines staff, including that of inked a Memorandum of Understanding Tactivities at Walton Airport the national flag carrier Pakistan as part of collaboration on the 'Safe Skies' initially for eight weeks. International Airlines (PIA), started Initiatives undertaken by both the Justice Ali Baqar Najafi was hearing checking vaccination certificates of organisations for wellness of the several petitions against taking over of the passengers on all flights from Sunday passengers during their air travel. airport by the Punjab government and August 1before boarding in the light of A PIA press release said on Sunday hindrance in the lawful business of guidelines of the National Command and that the MOU was signed by PIA's Chief Lahore Flying Club. Operation Centre (NCOC). Supply Officer Air Commodore Jibran The judge asked a counsel for the The NCOC has made the vaccine Saleem Butt and SIH Chief Medical Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) how long certificate mandatory for air travel, with Officer Dr Zeeshan Bin Ishtiaque at the it would take to set up an alternate venue effect from August 1, as part of the airlines offices in Islamabad. for Walton Airport. government's steps to curb the spread of Under this initiative, both will The counsel said it would take eight Covid-19. A total of eight air travellers not collaborate with each other to develop to 22 weeks for the shifting of the having the immunisation certificate were products for the health and wellness of the infrastructure to a new place. stopped from boarding flights at all PIA customers. As a first step, Shifa At this, Justice Najafi directed the airports across the country on the first day International Hospitals will provide CAA that all flying activities be restored of the travel ban on unvaccinated people. sanitisation kits for all passengers on the for a minimum period of eight weeks, Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority PIA flights. after which the court would see if the (CAA) had issued a notification which PIA Chief Executive Officer Air alternative provided was suitable or not. said: “No Pakistani passenger of 18 years Marshal Arshad Malik was also present on The judge will resume further of age and above will be allowed to the occasion. hearing on Sept 9. undertake domestic air travel within Pakistan without proof of Covid-19 No plan to privatise The petitions were filed by Lahore vaccination.” Flying Club, flight instructors at Walton It said the condition would not apply Airport and others. to international passengers arriving or PIA: Sarwar The petitioners contended that the departing from Pakistan and connecting government promulgated the Lahore domestic flights of such passengers Central Business District Development within 72 hours of arrival in/departure Authority Ordinance 2021 on Feb 4 in from Pakistan. violation of the due process of law to close In addition, partially vaccinated down abruptly the operations of the flying individuals holding proof of vaccination club. verifiable through SMS from 1166 and They said the club's predecessor, foreign nationals will be exempted from Northern India Flying Club, was duly this stipulation. incorporated in 1932 under the Indian The Pakistani nationals having Companies Act 1913 (current regime is documentary proof of vaccination Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said Companies Ordinance 1984). However, administered abroad, patients clinically Pakistan aviation industry was lucky as its losses during pandemic were much lower than other after the Partition, the name of Northern advised against vaccination owing to risk countries. India Flying Club was changed to the factors and those holding a doctor's viation Minister Ghulam Lahore Flying Club in 1954. certificate to this effect will also be Sarwar Khan recently put to The petitioners submitted that exempted. rest all rumours about Walton Airport was also an ideal location A spokesman for the Pakistan A privatisation of Pakistan International for air ambulances in case of any International Airlines (PIA), Abdullah Airlines (PIA), saying the government had emergency or disaster in the province and Hafeez, said the national flag carrier within a few minutes travel to major started verification of vaccination no plan to sell it off. certificates of passengers prior to the He rather said four new aircraft would hospitals in Lahore and any unwanted and boarding process on all flights from be added to the PIA fleet this year. disastrous situation can be mitigated Sunday. Speaking at a press conference at PTI through the use of above mentioned land. He said the PIA had been informing Public Secretariat here, the minister said They asked the court to set aside the all passengers about the standard Pakistan aviation industry was lucky as its impugned ordinance for taking over the operating procedures and the NCOC's losses during pandemic were much lower airport being illegal. However, during the guidelines through its call centres. than other countries where, according to pendency of the petitions, the ordinance The spokesman confirmed that a total International Air Transport Association was converted into an Act after an of eight passengers were stopped from reports, the losses were $400 billion. approval by the provincial assembly.

AUGUST 2021- 23 Small is Sexy: Which airlines operate the Embraer ERJ135?

he ERJ series started The smallest variant ERJ135 JSX Air in second place Embraer's successful run The ERJ135 is the smallest jet The second-largest operator of the Twith regional jets. The new E- Embraer has produced. It offers a cabin ERJ135 is the US regional airline JSX Air, Jets have taken capacity higher, but the capacity of up to only 37, usually in a 2-1 with a fleet of 16 ERJ135s. This is not an original ERJ aircraft had much smaller seating configuration. Now that it is out of airline we often discuss it started options. With a capacity of up to only 37, production, the smallest aircraft in the E- operations only in 2016 as JetSuiteX and the ERJ135 was the smallest variant Jet series is the E-170, with a typical two- rebranded in 2019. offered. Many aircraft are aging but It sits somewhere between a remain in service with a few regional class capacity of 66 and a single class capacity of up to 78. scheduled airline and a private charter, airlines worldwide and plenty of private offering scheduled flights but usually out operators. It was, in fact, offered as two variants. The ERJ135ER (extended range) is the of smaller airports or private terminals and baseline model, developed as a shortened with a business market focus. This semi- version of the ERJ145. The ERJ135LR private market is growing currently, and (long-range) variant offers increased fuel Embraer has responded to this with a capacity and improved engines. business-class cabin configuration of 1-1 In total, Embraer produced 1,231 for the ERJ145 at least. ERJ135/140/145 aircraft. As of July 2021 JSX Air operates an all Embraer fleet, (according to data from ch-aviation.com), with 16 ERJ135 (14 of these are the 325 ERJ135 aircraft remain in active ERJ135LR variant) and seven ERJ145 US regional airlines Contour Airlines and JSX Air service. Only 12 airlines, however, aircraft. These fly regional routes between still operate the smallest ERJ135. operate ERJ135 fleets the other operators several southern states. The Embraer ERJ series are charter, government, or private Contour Aviation / Contour Airlines Embraer launched the ERJ (Embraer operators. The largest operator of the type Contour Aviation operates both charter Regional Jet) series in 1995, with the first is German charter operator Air Hamburg, flights and scheduled flights (through its flight of the EMB145. This was turbofan with 21 aircraft. subsidiary Contour Airlines). Like JSX stretched version of the EMB120 (South Africa) top airline Air, it is an independent US regional turboprop. The updated ERJ145 followed operator airline. It has a slightly smaller fleet, with this in 1997, with its two engines moved to Airlink, formerly working in a close just 18 aircraft. 10 of these are ERJ135s the rear fuselage. strategic alliance with South African (six ERJ135ER and four ERJ135LR). It The mid-sized ERJ145 was followed also operates the ERJ145 and competitor by the smaller ERJ135 and ERJ140 in Airways as South African Airlink, is a aircraft CRJ200. 1999. The ERJ series has been very regional African airline based in successful for Embraer, taking it to a Johannesburg. It is a major Embraer leading position in the regional jet market. operator, with the ERJ135 and ERJ140 The ERJ series remained in production and the E170 and E190. Out of its fleet of until 2020, with over 1,200 aircraft 51 aircraft, 45 are Embraer jets (the other produced in total. Embraer moved on to six are BAe Jetstream 41 turboprops). develop the clean sheet E-Jet series, which first flew in 2002 and entered service in 2004. It has been even more successful, and the larger variants take capacity even further. Loganair's passenger fleet includes the ERJ135.

Loganair UK-based Loganair operates four ERJ135ER aircraft out of a diverse fleet of 40 aircraft. The ERJ145 makes up the largest part of this, with 13 aircraft. The ATR 42 and ATR 72 feature as well, as do Airlink is currently the largest operator of the aging Saab 340 aircraft. ERJ135. OTT Airlines Airlink operates 16 ERJ135LR and one OTT Airlines is a subsidiary of ERJ135ER aircraft. It took its first aircraft Eastern Airlines set up only in 2020. It is in 2000, and all were delivered by 2003. It set to become the first operator of the The ERJ135 and the larger ERJ145. has only retired one aircraft to date. Chinese-built C919 and will

24 - AUGUST 2021 operate Chinese-built aircraft for the airline. OTT Airlines already operates the Seven killed as Teenager takes to Chinese-built ARJ21, with five in service and 30 more on order. desperate Afghans the skies on round- I t a l s o o p e r a t e s b u s i n e s s configuration jets, including the Embraer the-world record bid Legacy 650 it operates just two of these cling to plane aircraft. The Legacy 600/650 was launched in 2002 as a lower-capacity housands of Afghans rushed version of the ERJ135. This is onto the tarmac of Kabul's the version that Air Hamburg operates, as Tinternational airport on do many other smaller private operators. Monday 16 August, some so desperate to escape the Taliban capture of their country that they held onto an American military jet as it took off and plunged to death in chaos that killed seven people. The crowds rushing to the airport came as the Taliban enforced their rule over the capital after a lightning advance ZARA Rutherford waves as she departs for the across the country that took just over a round-the-world trip in a light aircraft. week to dethrone the country's Western- Teenage pilot Zara Rutherford took backed government. While there were no her ultralight sports plane into the skies on major reports of abuses, many stayed at Wednesday 18 August on the first leg of a home and remained fearful as the advance 52-country, five-continent flight around saw prisons emptied and armouries the world. looted. The intrepid 19-year-old British- Residents raced to Kabul's Belgian dreams one day of becoming an The Legacy 600 / 650 is based on the ERJ135. international airport, where the civilian astronaut, but for now her goal is to side was closed until further notice. The become the youngest woman to Six airlines with one or two aircraft US military and other Western forces circumnavigate the planet flying solo. The Six more regional airlines currently continued to organise evacuations. first leg was a short hop across the Videos circulating on social media operate just one or two ERJ135 aircraft Channel from her Belgian home town of showed hundreds of people running across Kortrijk to England. Her three-month (based on ch-aviaiton.com data). the tarmac as US troops fired warning Cameroon airline Cronos Regional, voyage will then take her over oceans, shots in the air. One showed a crowd deserts and the vast Siberian wilderness. Angolan airline SJL Aeronáutica, and pushing and shoving its way up a staircase, She will try to avoid daunting main Slovenia-based Amelia International trying to board a plane, with some people hanging off the railings. air hubs apart from New York's busy JFK operate two ERJ135 aircraft. airport in her tiny 325-kilogramme Shark And with just one ERJ135 in service, we In another video, hundreds of people UL prop plane, and touch down instead on have UK regional airlines Eastern could be seen running alongside a US Air smaller airports and airfields for Force C-17 transport plane as it moved overnight rests and refuelling. Airways, Nigerian airlines MaxAir, and down a runway. Some clung to the side of Sudanese operator Tarco Aviation. the jet just before takeoff. Another video She will be on her own for flights showed several falling through the air as lasting five to six hours. She has secured the aeroplane rapidly gained altitude over permission to visit countries including the city. Greenland, Honduras, Saudi Arabia and Senior military officials said the Myanmar. chaos left seven dead, including several While not the youngest pilot to fly who fell from the flight. around the world solo an 18-year-old The storming of the airport, seen from Briton, Travis Ludlow, completed the trip space by passing satellites, raised in July Rutherford is the youngest woman questions about how much longer aircraft to attempt the feat. would be able to safely take off and land. “I'm really hoping to encourage girls Shafi Arifi, who had a ticket to travel and young women to go into aviation and to Uzbekistan on Sunday, was unable to STEM science, technology, engineering board his plane because it was packed with and mathematics,” she said before takeoff. Many more ERJ135 aircraft remain in charter, people who had raced across the tarmac and climbed aboard, with no police or “Growing up, I didn't see many VIP, or private use, such as this one with the women in those fields and it was quite Belgian Air Force.. airport staff in sight. “There was no room for us to stand,” discouraging. So I'm hoping to change The Embraer ERJ135 is one of the said the 24-year-old. "Children were that.” Her aerial odyssey can be followed on Rutherford's website, FlyZolo.com, smallest jets in commercial service closer crying, women were shouting, young and old men were so angry and upset, no one and on the TikTok social media app. to many private jets in size. It is aging now Rutherford has a satellite telephone in many fleets and will continue to could hear each other. There was no oxygen to breathe." and a radio to communicate with air traffic disappear from use. Feel free to discuss After a woman fainted and was control in all the countries on her route, your opinions or experiences flying this carried off the plane, Arifi gave up and but in the cockpit she will be alone with aircraft in the comments. went back home. her music and her podcasts.

AUGUST 2021 - 25 Punjab govt to launch air ambulance service

assing-out parade of rescuers of Muharram processions and Majalis. The CM congratulated Ahsan Saleem Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Koh- In a statement, he appealed to the Baryar and Saleem Baryar on the victory Pe-Suleman area of Dera Ghazi participants to wear facemasks as it was in in PP-38, saying the people had defeated Khan at the Emergency Services their interest to observe precautions in the the anti-state narrative and chosen an Academy, Thokar Niaz Beg. White Star wake of the fourth wave of the honest and trustworthy candidate to Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar coronavirus. represent them. on Monday 16 August announced BARYAR: Newly-elected MPA from Ahsan Baryar invited the CM to visit launching an air ambulance service, Sialkot Ahsan Saleem Baryar called on Sialkot. Passing-out parade of rescuers of saying Punjab would be the first province CM Buzdar in his office along with senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Koh-e- to start the service. PTI leader Saleem Baryar. Suleman area of Dera Ghazi Khan at the He said the budget had been allocated Principal Secretary to CM Tahir Emergency Services Academy, Thokar for the air rescue service in the current Khurshid was also present. Niaz Beg. financial year. He was speaking at the passing-out of 393 rescuers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and More PIA flights bring Pakistanis, 73 of Koh-e-Suleman area of DG Khan at Emergency Services Academy, Thokar Niaz Beg, on Monday. Mr Buzdar assured foreigners stranded in Kabul the rescuers that the government would review approval of risk allowance for them on the pattern of Punjab Police and akistan International Airlines to Pakistan safely and landed at Islamabad the work would start for restoration of operated two more special International Airport at 7am on Thursday. frozen allowance from 2017 onwards. Pflights to bring Pakistani The spokesman said that information He said the government had also nationals and foreigners stranded in regarding delayed return of the special expanded the scope of rescue service to 86 Afghanistan to Pakistan on Friday 20 flight was kept secret due to security tehsils while motorbike ambulance August. The PIA's Chief Executive reasons on Wednesday. service had been extended to 27 districts. Officer, Arshad Malik, left with the first “The PIA administration had been in He lauded the Rescue 1122 for rescuing flight to encourage the crew. constant touch with the new Afghan the people in more than 9.6m The PIA CEO will hold meetings government, civil aviation and Nato emergencies. with Afghan Civil Aviation and Nato officials for the return flight,” the The chief minister said more than officials at Kabul airport and review spokesman said, adding that CEO Arshad 20,000 rescuers of Punjab and other Malik was overseeing the operation federating units had completed their administrative matters and operation with training from the academy. Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan directly from PIA's exchange room. Mansoor Khan. Mr Buzdar said the rescuers service PIA had been in contact with the new structure had been implemented to A spokesman for PIA said: “Two Afghan administration staff and on-site generate promotion opportunities and the more special PIA flights left for Kabul to security agencies, the spokesman said, government had given the status of an bring back Pakistanis and foreigners adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan administrative department to Rescue 1122 stranded in Kabul to Pakistan.” and other senior government officials while giving the powers of a secretary to Airbus 320 and Boeing 777 were were also kept informed about the arrival its director general. used in the two flights. According to the of the plane. He also lauded the rescuers for PIA spokesman, Minister for Aviation He said that Pakistanis, staff of shifting thousands of coronavirus patients Sarwar Khan said the situation was being foreign diplomatic missions and people to hospitals and quarantine centres during reviewed for operating more flights to from major international organisations the pandemic. KP's special assistant on other cities of Afghanistan. were rescued during the special flight as information Kamran Bangash and Rescue passengers were facilitated by PIA's 1122 DG Dr Rizwan Naseer also spoke. Meanwhile, a special flight of PIA which was stuck at the Kabul airport on ground staff in Kabul. CM Buzdar witnessed the rescuers' A day after the Taliban took control of performance appreciated their skills. He Wednesday 18 August arrived at inspected the parade and distributed Islamabad International Airport on Kabul, the flight operation to Kabul was shields among the best performers. He Thursday 19 August morning with suspended by PIA. PIA's special flight was also presented a shield by Kamran Pakistanis, staff of foreign diplomatic PK-6249 was the first flight to land at the Bangash on behalf of the KP government. missions and people from international Kabul airport after temporary suspension Meanwhile, CM Buzdar has directed organisations onboard. of international flights. to ensure observance of Covid-19 SOPs in The national flag carrier's Boeing 777 One of the two special flights of the flight PK-6249 the first international national flag carrier, which departed for flight since the formation of new Kabul to evacuate Pakistanis, foreigners government in Afghanistan could not fly and Afghans, arrived in Islamabad on back to Islamabad on Wednesday night to Friday evening, while the second flight is repatriate Pakistanis and staff of foreign likely to reach Islamabad in the night. diplomatic missions stranded in Kabul Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Pakistan's due to security situation. Ambassador to Afghanistan, said in a The PIA spokesman said: “This was tweet: “Pakistan embassy in Kabul is the first international flight since the new arranging evacuation of 350 foreign government was formed in Afghanistan nationals, Pakistanis & Afghans on two Passing-out parade of rescuers of Khyber by the Taliban.” special flights by PIA. The Embassy has Pakhtunkhwa and Koh-e-Suleman area of Dera made arrangements in its own Ghazi Khan at the Emergency Services Academy, He said the PIA's special flight Thokar Niaz Beg. carrying passengers from Kabul returned compound.”

26 - AUGUST 2021 ACAAP hosts reception in honour of its Chairman

Mr. Muhammad Yousaf Chairman ACAAP (Air Cargo Agents Association) being presented a bouquet by members of ACAAP at a reception held in Lahore.

A Group photo with ACAAP Chairman Mr. Muhammad Yousaf taken on the occasion.

AUGUST 2021 - 27 28 - AUGUST 2021 AUGUST 2021 - 29 Pakistan becomes smartphone exporter

akistan has become exporter of The minister added that the local set manufacturing to countries like India, 4G smartphones by sending manufacturers would eventually start Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh,” he Pfirst-ever shipment tagged moving towards assembling of high-end said. 'Manufactured in Pakistan' to the United phones too after the production of spare He added that labour cost was very Arab Emirates. parts for mobile sets commence next year. high in Vietnam and Indonesia and The first consignment of 5,500 On the other hand a senior player in Chinese businesses are not expanding in mobile sets of 4G smartphones the field has said that the government's India anymore due to mounting political manufactured by Inovi Telecom was approach towards enhancing export tensions. exported to the UAE on Friday 13 August. markets was slow, keeping in view the “Now Pakistan is the only player left However, the local manufacturers of changing scenario. to compete with Bangladesh, but is the mobile phone sets have stressed the need Transsion Tecno Electronics CEO government ready to provide same level of for an export supportive policy, allowing Amir Allahwala said that overall exports facilities to us too?” he asked. “We have Pakistan to beat competitors in the Middle of mobile set by China is over $140bn, but proved that investors can meet the targets East region. that was only due to low labour cost, which but the future of mobile set exports The Pakistan Telecommunication has now increased significantly. depends on the government policies,” he Authority on Saturday congratulated the “The Chinese are moving towards remarked. company for the achievement and hoped high-tech items and shifting their mobile the exports of smart phones would increase further. “This is the result of concerted efforts for the development of 11 firms likely to win tenders for 2,500 mobile device manufacturing ecosystem in the country,” said the regulator in a PR freight wagons statement. First consignment of 5,500 4G sets shipped to UAE. leven companies interested in business. Of the 12,000 goods' wagons of Inovi Telecom Pvt Ltd was issued the commercial operation of all kinds, 2,500 are fit for operation and authorisation for mobile device Efreight wagons are likely to almost 5,000 may be utilised after some manufacturing in April and it has win tenders after they, through financial repair. The remaining 4,500 require managed to fulfill its first export order bids, cumulatively offered about Rs13 complete rehabilitation. The 2,150 within four months. Chief Executive billionn per annum to the Pakistan wagons are currently under use of the PR Zeeshan MianNoor said that their main Railways (PR) for using 2,500 high and for coal, containers and the general cargo target was to penetrate in low-end markets low capacity wagons. transportation. of Middle East including Iraq, Iran and “Eleven of the 13 firms have offered By June 2021, the PR's total freight Afghanistan. Rs13bn per annum to the PR for using business, including the Yousafwala “We are manufacturing the Chinese 2,500 freight wagons. Since their bid (Sahiwal)-Karachi coal transportation, brands and there are a large number of seems feasible, the PR is likely to accept crossed Rs20bn. An amount of Rs18bn expat workers in the Gulf countries,” he it. Though the financial bids of the two includes Rs12bn through coal said, adding the hi-end consumers of Gulf firms were also feasible, they couldn't be transportation and the rest (Rs6bn) earned countries prefer top world class mobile entertained due to some issuesone forgot through other cargo/freight business. brands and we should not even try to get to append the one percent earnest money “Despite having 2,500 fit wagons of involved in that market.” pay order and the other didn't mention the high and low capacity, the PR is earning He said that the mass market of Gulf destinations mistakenly,” one of the just Rs8bn per annum. The offers of countries was their primary target, while potential bidders told media. Rs13bnmore than doubleis a good omen the ordinary citizens of Iraq, Iran and “The financial bids were opened on for the department,” the bidder said, Afghanistan too preferred mobile sets up Aug 12 at the PR Lahore headquarters,” he adding that the PR is likely to touch a to $100 each. added. figure of Rs25bn fright revenue this year IT and Telecom Minister Syed Amin According to an internal document, (Rs12bn from the dedicated coal ul Haque told media that favourable 13 companies were declared technically transportation and Rs13bn from the other government policies have helped achieve qualified for the bids for outsourcing of freight/cargo business through the milestone of transforming Pakistan freight trains. They were Bilal Associates, outsourcing of coaches). from a net mobile phone importer to an Fatima Fertilizers, Maple Leaf Power Ltd, When contacted, PR Chief exporting country. Indus Steel Mills, Premier Mercantile, Marketing Manager Kashif Yousfani told H e a d d e d t h a t c o n d u c i v e Chishtian Logistic, IMGS Pakistan, media he was unable to quote the exact environment was being provided to the Lucky Commodity, Mughal Steel, figure of the offers mentioned in the local mobile device manufacturing Irfanullah & Co, Maple Leaf Cement, financial bids. companies and the smuggling of mobile Imlak Private Ltd and Awan Trading. “I cannot confirm to you the amount phones has been stopped through Device Under the plan, the PR wants to use of total offers since the evaluation of bids Identification Registration and Blocking 75pc of its 12,000 available goods' rolling is under way at the moment. This process System (DIRBS). stock in order to double its freight may take a week more or so,” he added.

30 - AUGUST 2021 AUGUST 2021 - 31 Pakistan, Uzbekistan pledge to boost ties in all sectors

akistan and Uzbekistan on transportation infrastructure so that the Thursday 15 July vowed to goods loaded from Pakistan's Karachi and Pexpand multifaceted bilateral Gwadar seaports could reach Uzbekistan's cooperation to all areas of mutual interest Tashkent,” he said in a video message and stressed the need for resolution of the from the Uzbek capital. Afghanistan conflict through internal Joint declaration political process imperative for peace and A joint declaration, issued at the progress of the whole region. conclusion of the business forum, said The two countries made these Prime Minister Khan and Uzbek President commitments on the first day of Prime Mirziyoyev agreed to strengthen their Minister Imran Khan's two-day official Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing a meeting multifaceted ties in political, trade and visit to Uzbekistan where they jointly of the Uzbekistan-Pakistan Business Forum. economic, energy, communication, hosted Uzbekistan-Pakistan Business Chaudhry, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid science and technology, education and Forum on 'Central and South Asia 2021: Ahmed, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali cultural spheres, and fighting Covid-19. Regional Connectivity Challenges and Haider Zaidi, National Security Adviser The two leaders expressed Opportunities', in the Uzbek capital. D r M o e e d Yu s u f a n d K h y b e r satisfaction at the continued progress in PM Khan, while addressing the Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information bilateral relations and announced the business forum, expressed the hope that Technology Atif Khan. establishment of a strategic partnership for Pakistan's connectivity (through rail, road Speaking at the forum, Prime Minister mutual benefit of the two countries. and aviation) with Uzbekistan in trade and Khan assured the businessmen and traders Noting that Pakistan was among the bilateral spheres would open up new of Uzbekistan that Pakistan would extend first countries to recognise the avenues of prosperity in the region. them every possible facility in promotion independence of Republic of Uzbekistan “Pakistan has immense potential to of trade. “I want to assure the business in 1991, the leaders congratulated each connect Central Asia with the rest of the community of Uzbekistan that this other on approaching the 30th anniversary world and become a hub of trade,” he relationship is just the beginning of the of the establishment of diplomatic added. journey of development and prosperity.” relations between the two brotherly Several MoUs and agreements were He said the railway project between countries and agreed to celebrate it in a signed to strengthen cooperation between Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan befitting manner. the two sides in diverse areas. These would prove to be a revolution of They agreed on the regular exchange include a protocol on exchange of pre- development, adding that peace and of parliamentary delegations to deepen arrival information on goods moved security in the neighbourhood was bilateral ties. The Uzbek side confirmed across the state border, an agreement on essential to exploit the region's potential. the invitation to Senate Chairman Sadiq transit trade, cooperation in the field of Mr Khan said peace in Afghanistan Sanjrani to pay a visit to Uzbekistan. military education and an agreement on was important to ensure materialisation of The leaders expressed satisfaction at simplification of visa procedures for development projects in Central Asia. the level of bilateral cooperation within businessmen and tourist groups. An MoU “Pakistan is keen for peace in Afghanistan the framework of international between Pakistan's Foreign Service and considers it vital for trade connectivity organisations and reaffirmed their Academy and the University of World among the regional countries,” he said, commitment to continue supporting each Economy and Diplomacy of Ministry of adding such trade linkages helped in other in the UN, SCO, OIC, ECO and Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan was also other international and regional forums on signed, in addition to a cultural exchange raising the living standards of citizens. Mr Khan referred to the cooperation issues of mutual interest. programme 2021-2026 and an MoU on The Uzbek president highly tourism. among neighbouring countries of the European Union that focused on bilateral appreciated the role of Pakistan in Two states sign several agreements to trade arrangements for the benefit of their promoting the peace process in strengthen cooperation; Imran says peoples. “With the support and will of the Afghanistan and its contribution to Pakistan has immense potential to regional states, the situation in socioeconomic development of connect Central Asia with rest of world Afghanistan would lead to improvement,” Afghanistan. Prime Minister was received by he hoped. Prime Minister Khan hailed Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at Speaking to the media, Foreign Uzbekistan's efforts for socioeconomic Koksaray presidential palace and given a Minister Qureshi said Pakistan and reconstruction of Afghanistan through the guard of honour. National anthems of the Uzbekistan had vast potential to explore implementation of a number of significant two countries were played on the the opportunities of bilateral trade and projects. occasion. investment for their mutual interest. Both leaders expressed readiness to Mr Khan laid a wreath at He said the Pak-Uzbek business maintain a regular dialogue and build Independence and Humanism Monument forum was attended by around 130 constructive cooperation in the field of of Uzbekistan as a gesture of respect to the representatives of leading companies and security and defence and to expand history and culture of the Uzbek people. business houses from Pakistan. The cooperation between law enforcement Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov activity resulted in signing of agreements agencies of the two countries, particularly accompanied Mr Khan. worth $453 million, he said. in the fight against terrorism and drug The business forum was attended by Fawad Chaudhry said two important trafficking. a large number of businessmen from objectives of the prime minister's visit The two leaders welcomed the Pakistan and Uzbekistan, besides the were to ensure travel facilities between signing of the agreement on transit trade as prime minister's delegation, including Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and an important tool for expanding bilateral Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood deliberate upon ways to ensure peace in trade. They reiterated their support for the Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Afghanistan. “We want an effective Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar

32 -AUGUST 2021 railway project as an important initiative He added that economic and to create a rail link from Central Asia to Dawood urges industrial boost was on government's top the Arabian Sea through Afghanistan and agenda. He assured Sialkot exporters that Pakistani seaports of Karachi, Gwadar increase in all problems of the industrial sector would and Bin Qasim. be resolved amicably. “The Commerce The two leaders also recognised Ministry is actively engaging with all immense potential of the China-Pakistan regional trade relevant stakeholders to understand the Economic Corridor for the benefit of the issues related to trade and investment in entire Central Asian region and beyond current challenging situation,” he added. entailing greater connectivity and trade linkages through a network of transport, fibre optic cable, energy pipelines, and 25 textile firms investment opportunities in its SEZs. The two leaders welcomed contribute 21pc to resumption of direct regular flights between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Both leaders welcomed the $25bn exports declaration of March 15 as International Day to combat Islamophobia, and agreed COMMERCE Adviser Abdul Razak Dawood is he top 25 textile companies to work towards the designation of this addressing businessmen at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently. have alone contributed over day by the UN General Assembly. $5.361 billion, or 21 per cent, The forum was attended by more dviser to the Prime Minster on T to the country's overall exports of $25bn in than 100 top Pakistani businessmen and Commerce and Investment investors representing major export AAbdul Razak Dawood 2020-21. sectors and logistic services and Uzbek recently said Pakistan must focus on “It is a matter of great pleasure that the businessmen from corresponding enhancing regional trade which remains exports of the textile sector alone soared sectors. very low and must be exploited. by 19.23pc to $15.5bn in 2020-21 Interaction with Pakistani Addressing a meeting of exporters at compared to $13bn the preceding year,” businessmen the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Aptma (North Zone) Chairman Abdul In an interactive session with Industry (SCCI), he said the government Rahim Nasir told media recently. “It is Pakistani businessmen, Prime Minister had successfully completed its agenda of economic stability. Calling for increase in really unprecedented,” he added. Khan said the government was According to a list shared by trade committed to removing impediments in regional trade, he gave the example of the the way of various businesses and European Union where regional trade was bodies, Style Textile (Pvt) Ltd exports industries, including the pharmaceutical 90 per cent. remained $428.76 million in 2020-21, industry. The meeting was presided over by followed by Interloop Ltd with $331.54m, The prime minister said unnecessary SCCI president Qaisar Iqbal Baryar. Artistic Milliners (Pvt) Ltd $329.63m, regulations were being done away with to Senior vice president Khurram Aslam Butt Yunus Textile Mills Ltd $311.92m, Nishat encourage and promote the Small and and former presidents of the chamber also Mills Ltd $307.32m, Gul Ahmad Textile Medium Enterprises. attended the meeting. Mills Ltd $284.25m, Feroze 1888 Mills He said Pakistan and Uzbekistan had Mr Dawood shared details of the Ltd $273.04m, Soorty Enterprises Ltd a lot of potential for joint ventures agreements and MoUs concluded during $268.14m, Artistic Fabric & Garment between their private sectors for mutual Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent visit benefit. to Uzbekistan, saying it was a successful Industries (Pvt) Ltd-$226.42m, Liberty Foreign Minister Qureshi and visit. He informed the meeting that 71 Mills $216.33m, Masood Textile Mills Ltd Adviser on Commerce Razak Dawood agreements were signed between the two $213.05m, Sadaqat Ltd $209.22m, US were also present on the occasion. countries. Apparel & Textiles Ltd $197.50m, Al- The prime minister told the Invites exporters to take part in the Karam Textile Mills Ltd $185.25m, Nishat entrepreneurs that the government was single-country exhibition to be held in (Chunian) Ltd $169.70m, Novatex Ltd working to change the NAB (National Tashkent soon $167.49m, Lucky Textile Mills Ltd Accountability Bureau) Law. The adviser said that a single-country $165.79m, Garibsons Ltd $165.65m, Prime Minister Khan, who gave a exhibition would be held in Tashkent soon Denim Clothing Company $148.58m, patient hearing to the proposals of and urged the Sialkot exporters to Klash Ltd $139.16m, Sapphire Finishing P a k i s t a n i b u s i n e s s m e n a n d participate in it. Uzbekistan has good Mills Ltd $137.35m, Gohar Textile Mills e n t r e p r e n e u r s , a g r e e d w i t h a relations with CIS countries and this businessman that Pakistan had enormous opportunity must be availed, he added. Ltd $126.78m, Kamal Ltd $125.75m, Riaz potential in the pharmaceutical industry, On the occasion, Mr Dawood said Textile Mills Ltd $121.09m and Sapphire which was not being tapped due to DLTL issues will be resolved. “I have a Fibres Ltd $111.87m. problems in the Drug Regulatory one-point agenda meeting with the PM to He said keeping in view the rapid Authority of Pakistan. set export target for the next year. Three expansion in the textile exports owing to The prime minister also mentioned members from each chamber of commerce increasing investments, Aptma has the NAB law and its fear as one of the will attend the meeting,” he said. The decided to take all those textile exports impediments in attracting quality adviser added that he will discuss issues companies making $40m to 50m per professionals required to head various regarding Exim Bank with the finance annum to achieve the figure of $100m institutions in the country. minister. H e a s s u r e d t h e P a k i s t a n i each. “If we succeed in doing so, our He congratulated Sialkot exporters textile exports alone may jump from entrepreneurs that they would also be for increasing their exports during the past consulted before signing the Free Trade few years and further appreciated the e- $15.5bn to $25bn in next couple of years,” and Preferential Trade Agreements. commerce trainings in the area. he added.

AUGUST 2021 - 33 Chinese ban on nine firms hits Pakistan`s fish exports

number of Pakistani which inland fish contributed 250,000 companies have been facing a tonnes, whereas marine production was Atemporary ban on exports of 369,741 tonnes. The landing of fish in fish and fish preparations to China since Sindh was 208,001 tonnes whereas January after detection of coronavirus in Balochistan production is 161,740 tonnes. their shipments. The export is increasing mainly Qadri Noori Enterprise chief because of rising export of fish meal. The executive officer Manzar Alam told media production mainly of marine fish in Sindh that around 50 companies have been has been decreasing since 1999 because of exporting fish to China. Out of top 15 over fishing and an increased fishing fleet, exporters, some nine firms are now THIS combo picture shows seafood (clockwise) he said. temporarily banned by the Chinese ribbon fish, eels, Japanese thread fin bream also known as JTB octopus and shrimps in baskets. Food and Agriculture Organisation of authorities. Workers at a seafood processing unit arrange boxes the United Nations has warned in 2016 to Giving details of the ban, he said in of fish and shrimps. reduce fishing fleet by 50pc or else major case the coronavirus is detected in one fisheries resources may collapse, however, shipment, the exporter faces a one-week exports of 198,420 tonnes in FY18 which no heed was paid by the fishermen and ban and in case of four cases, then the earned $451m but the AUP was $2.27 per authorities concerned and no control on exporter cannot send the shipment for kg, while in FY19 exports were 195,523 the fleet is in place, he said. eight weeks, he said. tonnes fetching $438m with AUP at $2.24, PBS data showed. WWF-Pakistan has shown its concern He said Pakistan's seafood exports that about 200 tonnes of tuna being have since been in crisis as 60 per cent out Fish exports had managed to get smuggled to Iran daily. If this illegal trade of the country's total fish exports are $2.58 per kg value with export of 152,858 is controlled Pakistani exports may reach a destined for China. tonnes worth $394m in 2016-2017 and level of at least $550m. There is immediate AUP of $2.54 per kg in 2015-2016 with need to reducing fishing fleet both Sindh Mr Alam said coronavirus had been export of 127,910 tonnes fetching $325m. detected in outer cartons and the Chinese and Balochistan else the fisheries may authorities instead of destroying the According to the Economic Survey collapse, he stressed. infected consignment or sending it into FY21, Pakistan's main buyers of fish quarantine for 15 days had suspended the products are China, Thailand, Malaysia, Karachi businessmen shipping company. the Middle East, Sri Lanka and Japan. The survey said since resumption of exports to “The rejected consignments then the European Union (EU), several urged to invest in arrived back in Pakistan and exporters are consignments of fish, cuttlefish and facing Rs2 million per container as shrimps had been sent by two exporters Gwadar, CPEC projects demurrage and detention and taxes,” he who were cleared after 100 per cent added. laboratory tests at the EU borders. Six “Exporters have taken up the matter more fish processing plants are in the with Commerce Adviser Abdul Razak pipeline and their cases for approval are Dawood who had constituted a under process with the EU authorities. committee, but no headway has been Belgium, Netherlands, Spain and the made so far,” he added. United Kingdom had imported 3,285 One container with 26 tonnes of fish tonnes of fish, squid shrimps and crabs carries a price between Rs7m and Rs10m, valuing $13mn during July-March FY21 he said. on which the AUP comes to $395 per Pakistan has been exporting seafood tonne, the survey said. at an average unit price (AUP) of less than Mr Faisal said India as well as other Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is addressing $2.5 per kg from FY18 to FY21 as businessmen at the KCCI headquarters on Friday 9 countries are giving a tough time to July. compared to AUP of $5 to 8 per kg earned Pakistan as these competitors have by regional competitors. adopted shrimp farming, while in Pakistan enate Chairman Sadiq “We have been exporting small fish there is negligible marine farming. Sanjarani on Friday 9 July which earn low prices for the last four Pakistan has been facing a problem of urged Karachi's business years,” Deep Blue Seafood Ltd CEO M. S overfishing of juvenile fish causing Faisal Iftikhar Ali said, adding that fish community to expand their activities by persistent drop in landing of high value setting up industrial export units in meal is being exported in bulk quantities fish, he said, adding that a joint study by which is used in poultry feed. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the Gwadar as well as other parts of He said India is fetching an AUP of United Nations and Marine Fisheries Balochistan. $5-7 per kg followed by over $5 by Department (MFD) of the Federal Addressing the business community Bangladesh and $7-8 per kg by China. The G o v e r n m e n t h a d u n d e r t a k e n a at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and average global AUP comes to $5 per kg. comprehensive assessment of Pakistan's Pakistan's fish and fish preparation Marine Fisheries Resources 2015 and Industry (KCCI), the Senate chairman exports in FY21 stood slightly higher at revealed massive fish stocks depletion in said Gwadar is fast becoming a trading 184,396 tonnes fetching $414m but AUP Pakistan's seas. hub as development work in the port city came to $2.25 per kg compared with Technical Adviser (Marine Fisheries), had picked up pace. He asked Karachi exports of 171,704 tonnes valuing $406m WWF-Pakistan, Mohammad Moazam businessmen to invest in Gwadar and the with AUP of $2.35 per kg in FY20. Khan said fish production in Pakistan in Pakistan had seen the highest-ever 2020 was observed to be 619,000 tonnes of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. Chinese investors are 34 - AUGUST 2021 AUGUST 2021 - 35 continuously arriving at Gwadar for setting up industrial units, he highlighted. Iran president has decided to open six The issue of water scarcity in Gwadar has been resolved and desalination plants more border trade routes, says Sanjrani have been installed, he added. “Gwadar, being the only city after undertaken in Chagai and these projects Islamabad, is being developed under a would provide a lot of job opportunities to master plan aimed at providing all basic the masses in near future,” he said. facilities. Power supply in the town would A modern Mineral Research be linked with national grid in this fiscal University would also be constructed in Nokkundi area of Chagai, he said, adding year while development work at Gwadar that more development schemes worth Port is at advanced stage followed by fast Rs5bn would be included in the next pace development in industrial area,” Public Sector Development Programme. Senator Sanjarani said. Besides Gwadar, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has said the basic infrastructure of overall newly-elected Iranian president has announced Balochistan province is being developed opening of six more trade corridors along the Exports to UK up which include construction of a number Pakistan-Iran border in Balochistan. of roads to boost industrial and trading enate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani 33pc has said the newly-elected activities, he added. SI r a n i a n p r e s i d e n t h a s Pakistan's exports to the United Sanjrani says water problem in port announced opening of six more trade Kingdom posted a 33 per cent growth city has been resolved corridors along the Pakistan-Iran border in when it reached $2.025 billion in the fiscal On a delicate prevailing situation in Balochistan. year 2021 (FY21) against $1.522bn over FY20, mainly led by textile products. Afghanistan, Senator Sanjarani said He was speaking at a public meeting in his hometown of Nokkundi after Pakistan's exports to the UK Pakistan is looking forward for peace in arriving in Chagai on a two-day visit on 10 primarily consist of textile and leather- Afghanistan which is necessary for the August. related products, according to data entire region. All the state institutions Speaking about his recent visit to Iran compiled by the Ministry to Commerce. look forward to see a peaceful and where he attended the oath-taking Over the years, the UK has emerged Pakistan's third largest export destination, progressive Afghanistan, he added. ceremony of President Ebrahim Raisi, Mr Sanjrani said that he informed the second largest source of foreign direct He said he would discuss the issues president of the desire of the Baloch living investment and third largest source of of Karachi in the Senate as the city is the along the border to see more trade routes remittances after Saudi Arabia and United backbone of country's economy and sets opened. The Iranian president accepted Arab Emirates (UAE). the direction of country's economic the proposal. As a result, total bilateral trade between the two countries has reached progress. He urged businessmen to send He said more job opportunities would be created after the opening of the trade over $2.648bn during FY21 against their proposals so that it could be debated corridors as the people living in the $2.122bn in the previous year, reflecting in the Senate sessions and replies would districts of Balochistan along the border an increase of 25pc. be sought from the concerned ministries. were largely dependent on border trade. Britain mainly buys textile and He added that he would ask the He also said that the home minister of leather products from Pakistan Senate standing committees on Balochistan and the Iranian ambassador to The top export products to the UK in Pakistan would be approached to reopen FY21 was home textile, which grew 42pc commerce, industry and finance to visit the recently closed border trade corridor at to $648 million from $456m in the KCCI and hold meetings with the Taftan. previous year, followed by an increase of businessmen. “I will support the business Mr Sanjrani thanked the Iranian 57pc in apparel and clothing knitted or community of Karachi,” he added. president for announcing the reopening of crocheted to $625m from $397m over the previous year, and increase of 5pc in On the occasion, Chairman new trade corridors and termed the decision a good gesture. apparel and clothing not knitted or Businessmen Group Zubair Motiwala Earlier, Mr Sanjrani was received by crocheted to $304m against $2.88m in highlighted that Karachi was in a pathetic tribal elders, political figures and previous year. condition in terms of poor infrastructure. government officials on his arrival at The export of five products posted a growth but its exports in value term “KCCI wants to give a presentation on Dalbandin airport. The Senate chairman laid down the remain very less. The exports of surgical Karachi as other cities of the country are foundation-stone of 103-kilometre-long instruments posted a growth of 22pc on a prospering while Karachi is suffering. Nokkundi-Mashkel road and inaugurated year-on-year terms to $36m followed by The share of Karachi in country's exports the Ghat Water Supply Scheme before 48pc in edible fruit and nuts, peel of citrus fruits to $31m, 55pc in furniture, bedding, is 52 per cent while it pays more than 60pc addressing the public gathering. Talking about development projects, mattresses, mattress to $30m and 241pc in taxes to the national kitty but the port city Mr Sanjrani said that roads would be beverages, spirits and vinegar to $20m, continues to face severe hardships and constructed between Dalbandin and Ziarat respectively. injustices. There is a need to provide more Balanosh. Washuk would also be However, the exports of cereals dipped by 2pc, cotton 4pc and article of funds for Karachi's development and connected with Gwadar a road. “At the moment development leather 1pc during the year under review. resolving its pending issues,” he added. projects worth Rs20 billion are being The main reason for the increase in

36 - AUGUST 2021 textile products of Pakistan is due to the from the UK increased by 4pc to $623m in robust increase, which is a good sign for market diversification drive by the UK FY21 against $600m in FY20. the economy. companies in the aftermath of the Covid- The top-ten import products include The UK is the fifth largest national 19 induced crisis. The companies have iron & steel (scrap and flat-rolled) $343m, economy in the world measured by realised their vulnerability due to over- machinery and mechanical $62m, nominal gross domestic product (GDP) reliance on Bangladesh, India, and China. chemicals $33m, medical apparatus comprising 3pc of world GDP. The size of Besides, Pakistan was among the first $18m, respectively. GDP is $2.7 trillion, whereas per capita textile-producing countries to reopen the During 2020-21, remittances from income is $40,406. The UK is the ninth manufacturing facilities after lockdown, the UK to Pakistan increased by 58 from largest exporter and the fourth largest which gave the country a significant head- $2.569bn in FY20 to $4.067bn. The importer in the world. It possesses the remittances from the UK to Pakistan second-largest stocks of inward and start over the competitors. outward foreign direct investment. Contrary to this, Pakistan's imports during this financial year have seen a Bidder made CEO of railway freight company

n a surprising development, the “It seems that through induction of “I own Jawaid Siddiqui, as we federal government has appointed Mr Siddiqui in the PRFTC, monopoly of selected him after interviewing many Ia chief operating officer of a certain business groups is being surfaced candidates. We have found him one of the private firm as chief executive officer in the Pakistan Railways a strategically best for this position,” he said, confirming (CEO) of the Pakistan Railways Freight important department,” apprehended that his appointment letter would be issued Transportation Company (PRFTC) another source. very soon since the cabinet has approved despite knowing the fact that he, very “It is a clear case of conflict of his appointment. recently on behalf of his company, interest,” he said. Mr Swati said there was no issue prepared and submitted bids for getting The source said the foreign investors related to conflict of interest since he is the project on outsourcing of the railways' were said that there won't be a level watching all things. freight wagons, business. playing field available for them after this He said if the company where he “He was also among various appointment. (Siddiqui) has worked already, doesn't participants who attended pre-bid “The simple way to avert a conflict of give PR a suitable offer through meetings on behalf of his companies. The interest and uphold the merit is to privatise competitive bidding, that will be out from recent one he attended was held on July 2,” the PRFTC as a public limited company, the race. an official said. list/float its shares in the stock exchange “But if its bids are the highest, we will The appointment of Mr Jawaid and give equal opportunity to all.” Siddiqi as the CEO was approved in the have no option but to award the project to After this development, he said, the them under the law,” the minister clarified. meeting of the cabinet. He was associated PRFTC people may throw any company with various subsidiaries of the group for 'technically out of the race' on the day About the possibility of monopoly, Mr over a decade in top managerial positions. when technical bids of all prequalified Swati said: “We have 12,000 freight The PR is privatising its freight would be opened,” he maintained. wagons. These all would not be given to business to increase competition and Minister for Railways Azam Khan one company alone, as we will distribute it make the loss-making state-owned Swati defended the appointment of Mr among the winners/firms without any enterprise financially viable. Siddiqui. discrimination,” the minister maintained. Jubilation as Keti Bandar gets water supply scheme after 40 years

HATTA: Rehabilitation of a The reservoirs were being filled with water supply scheme after four water lifted from Joohu Minor a water Tdecades in coastal town Keti tributary and an offshoot of Udero Lal Bandar had brought smiles to the faces of canal and made operational with 89,529 residents of the town and its adjoining watts solar system after chlorination settlements. process, he said. The Rs187.219 million worth scheme Villagers Sattar Themor, Ghani would cater to needs of 10,653 population Katiyar, Hassan Dablo and a number of of the town and a number of scattered social activists believed that availability settlements of fishing communities, of sweet water would prove to be a strong peasants and labourers along deltaic belt, THE reservoir built to store sweet water in Keti incentive for those who had left Keti Bandar. Solar panels have been installed next to it Bandar to return to their town. said PPP MPA Haji Ali Hassan Zardari on to run the supply system. Thursday 8 July. The rehabilitated scheme had been He said that for years the fishing long pipeline in near future. executed in 1974 but high oceanic communities did not have any source of Hameed Panhwar, a local PPP leader currents frequently gushing into Keti safe water and they were forced to buy from PS 78, played a pivotal role in the Bandar and its suburbs had washed it potable water at exorbitant price supplied approval and execution of the scheme, away. Now, the banks of the reservoirs through water tankers. besides road and other schemes. have been raised reasonably and He said that he was also striving hard Sajid Hussain Mallah, an official of strengthened properly to save it from the to provide additional water reservoirs by public health engineering department, oceanic currents and ensure prompt water the newly rehabilitated water supply said that three reservoirs having capacity facility to locals. system to keep the facility running of more than 4.5m gallons would provide The jubilation was writ large on the throughout the year and also supply water water to people through 41,000-feet-long faces of local population for whom it was a to nearby villages through 21,000-feet- and 10-inch diameter pipeline. dream come true.

AUGUST 2021 - 37 38 - AUGUST 2021 S. Arabia to open Saudi Arabia to reopen borders for doors for tourists after vaccinated Umrah pilgrims 17-month closure audi Arabia will begin their most powerful source of political audi Arabia announced on accepting vaccinated foreigners legitimacy. Riyadh has spent billions Friday 30 July it would reopen Swanting to make the Umrah trying to build a tourism industry from its borders to fully vaccinated pilgrimage, authorities said on Sunday 8 scratch, as part of efforts to diversify its S August, a move that will boost an oil-reliant economy. foreign tourists after a 17-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, the state economy hit by the Covid pandemic. The once-reclusive kingdom began news agency said. Nearly 18 months after it closed its issuing tourist visas for the first time in However, Riyadh did not announce borders to battle coronavirus, Saudi 2019 as part of an ambitious push to any lifting of restrictions on Umra, which Arabia would from Monday begin revamp its global image and draw visitors. usually attracts millions of Muslims from “gradually receiving Umrah requests from Between September 2019 and March across the globe each year. “The Ministry various countries”, the Saudi Press 2020, it issued 400,000 of them only for of Tourism announced that the Kingdom Agency (SPA) reported. the pandemic to crush that momentum as will open its doors to foreign tourists, and The Umrah can be undertaken at any borders were closed. lift... the suspension of entry for tourist time, unlike the annual Haj. The Covid-19 The government has accelerated a visa holders, starting from August 1,” the pandemic hugely disrupted both the nationwide vaccination drive as it moves Saudi Press Agency reported. pilgrimages, which are usually key to revive tourism and other pandemic-hit It said travellers fully vaccinated revenue earners for the kingdom that rake sectors, such as sport competitions and with Saudi-approved jabs Pfizer, in a combined $12 billion annually. entertainment extravaganzas. AstraZeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Before Sunday's announcement, only Johnson will be able to enter the immunised pilgrims residing in Saudi Shaukat Hayat kingdom “without the need for an Arabia were eligible for Umrah permits. institutional quarantine period”, provided And last month only around 60,000 they also have proof of a negative PCR inoculated residents were allowed to take passes away Covid-19 test taken within the last 72 part in a scaled down form of Haj. But the kingdom is slowly opening up, and has An industrialist of hours and register their details with health Sialkot, Director, authorities. started welcoming vaccinated foreign tourists since August 1. Falcon Surgical Co., Riyadh has spent billions trying to Pvt Ltd., and Director build a tourism industry from scratch, as Foreign pilgrims must be immunised SIAL Mr.Shaukat part of efforts to diversify its oil-reliant with a Saudi-recognised vaccine Pfizer- Hayat passed away on economy. The once-reclusive kingdom BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna or August,8 in Sialkot. He began issuing tourist visas for the first Johnson & Johnson and agree to undergo was the elder brother of time in 2019, part of an ambitious push to quarantine if necessary, the SPA said M r. F a z a l J i l a n i revamp its global image and draw quoting Deputy Haj Minister Abdulfattah Chairman AirSial and visitors. bin Sulaiman Mashat. He added that the Director SIAL, Mr. Khizar Hayat, and Between September 2019 and March kingdom was working on determining the Younger Brother of Mr. Sikandar Hayat 2020, it issued 400,000 only for the destinations from which pilgrims could CE Star Medical Instruments, and cousin pandemic to crush that momentum as come and their numbers on a “periodic of Mr. Babar Iqbal former Charmian SIAL borders were closed. Covid-19 also basis according to the classification of and President SCCI. hugely disrupted the Haj and Umra preventive measures” in those countries. His funeral prayer was offered in pilgrimages, usually a key revenue earner Barring overseas pilgrims has caused Sialkot which was attended by a large for the kingdom in normal times, they deep disappointment among Muslims number of businessmen of Sialkot, together rake in some $12 billion worldwide, who typically save for years to directors of SIAL, and his relatives and annually. take part. friends. Currently only immunised pilgrims “I feel relieved about the resumption He is survived by a wife, four resident in Saudi Arabia are eligible for of the Umrah pilgrimage,” Ahmed daughters and a son. Umra permits. Hamadna, 33, a sales manager in Egypt, He was a veteran industrialist, The government has accelerated a said. But he added that he was “concerned initially, his factory was located at nationwide vaccination drive as it moves about the complex procedures and Khadim Ali road, and after some time, he to revive tourism and host sports and measures during the pandemic”. expanded his business in many folds and entertainment extravaganzas, all Engineer Mohamad Ragab, an shifted it to Wazir Abad Road at new pandemic-hit sectors. Australian resident, said he too was still building Sialkot. He was very generous “hesitant” to perform the Umrah and always ready to help the needy. He So far, 26 million jabs have been will be remembered by his heirs and administered to the population of 35 pilgrimage. “There will likely be crowds in Makkah and the chances of infection are friends. million, and the kingdom has said that He was a well-known personality in from August 1, vaccinations will be high,” he said. According to the SPA report, Saudi the social and business community of mandatory to enter government and Sialkot and was one of the Flyer's private establishments, including Arabia will allow 60,000 pilgrims to perform Umrah each month, and gradually contributors. His death is also Flyer's loss. education institutions and entertainment The Flyer International and its staff venues, as well as to use public transport. increase that to reach two million worshippers per month. also express their deep sorrow and grief Saudi Arabia has registered more over the demise of Shaukat Hayat. The than 523,000 coronavirus cases, with Hosting the pilgrimages is a matter of Flyer prays and requests to all to pray and 8,213 deaths. prestige for Saudi rulers, for whom the make dua for the departed soul. custodianship of Islam's holiest sites is AUGUST 2021 - 39 political choices and failed to put India on Students below 18 travelling abroad the red list led to the Delta variant becoming the most prominent strain in the allowed Moderna vaccine Britain. “Pakistan should reciprocate this been moved to the amber list, has a seven- tudents below the age of 18 political choosing by subjecting all British day infection rate of 20 per 100,000 who are intending to travel passport holders, excluding those of people while Pakistan's rate during the Sabroad have been allowed to Pakistan origin, to undergo quarantine of same period is just 14 per 100,000. get Moderna vaccine. 10 days before coming to Pakistan,” he On the other hand, former Senate “This is well below the vast majority said, adding that movement of British chairman Mian Raza Rabbani condemned of countries who are on the amber list,” he nationals residing in Pakistan should be the United Kingdom's decision to keep said. confined to their residences as they were Pakistan on the Covid-19 red list and The former Senate chairman said the potential carriers of the Delta variant. removing India and several other last time the UK government made countries from it. In a tweet, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) US eases travel restrictions for recently said: “Vaccination is open to all above 18 years of age. However, students Pakistan aged 16-18 years, who need to go abroad he US State Department has and developing severe symptoms may be for study to universities requiring revised its travel advisory for lower if you are fully vaccinated with a mandatory vaccination will be Pakistan, upgrading it from US-authorised vaccine,” it added. administered Moderna vaccine. (to be T “no travel” to “avoid unnecessary travels”. The State Department still urged US administered on checking valid visa / The revision from level four to level citizens not to travel to Balochistan and university documents).” three although not a major change, is still Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the According to an NCOC official, a notable improvement. former Federally Administered Tribal students under 18 would have to follow “Pakistan's security environment has Areas, due to terrorism and kidnapping. It the same registration process of sending improved since 2014 when Pakistani also advised against travelling to the an SMS on the helpline 1166, and wait for security forces undertook concerted immediate vicinity of the Line of Control information about the health centre. counter terrorist and counter militant As the vaccination drive intensifies due to terrorism and the potential for operations,” the latest travel advisory in the wake of the fourth wave of the armed conflict. noted. The change in US advisory followed deadly virus, the Ministry of National “There are greater security resources a visit to the United States by Pakistan's Health Services, in a tweet, said more and infrastructure in major cities, doses had been purchased and centres particularly Islamabad, and security National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf were being restocked. forces in these areas may be more readily and Director General of the Inter-Services “There is no shortage of Covid-19 able to respond to an emergency compared Intelligence Faiz Hameed, although the vaccines,” the ministry added. development may or may not be related to Meanwhile, former Senate chairman to other areas of the country.” F o r e i g n O f f i c e w e l c o m e s the visit. Mian Raza Rabbani said the British Washington's decision to revise its travel On his Twitter handle, FO government's latest quarantine traffic advisory spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said light system update was politically The advisory pointed out that “while the revised travel advisory showed the motivated and not based on scientific threats still exist, terrorist attacks are rare United States acknowledged the improved data. in Islamabad”. He condemned the continued security environment in Pakistan and The notification, however, urged US placement of Pakistan on the red list, effective handling of the Covid-19 citizens to “reconsider travel to Pakistan urging the government to take up the issue pandemic. due to terrorism and sectarian violence” with the UK authorities and also restrict “We welcome the recent revision of and suggested additional caution due to movement of British nationals in the travel advisory by the US which has Covid-19, as “some areas have increased country. upgraded Pakistan to Level-3. The upward “This is not the first time the Tory risk”. revision is an acknowledgement of the The US Centres for Disease Control government has shown such a callous improved security environment in and Prevention has issued a Level 2 Travel behaviour while dealing with the Pakistan and effective handling of the Health Notice for Pakistan, indicating a quarantine traffic light system,” Mr moderate level of Covid-19 in the country. Covid-19 pandemic,” the spokesperson Rabbani said, adding that India, which has “Your risk of contracting Covid-19 said in his tweet.

40 - AUGUST 2021 Ban on people`s entry to Neelum angers tourism industry

n view of reported spike in the presidents of guesthouses association administration bothers about it, why they Covid-19 cases as well as and transport union, said that in keeping are banning private visitors who mostly Idecisions of the National with the ban no bookings in the are the families and observe precautions,” Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) guesthouses and of the vehicles should be said a guesthouse owner. and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) made after July 18 and the already made He told media that he and other government, the administration in bookings should be cancelled. hoteliers had received advance money for Neelum valley has slapped a ban on the It warned that legal action would be bookings during this period and spent the entry of tourists from July 19 to July 29. taken in the event of violation of the ban. same on different heads, such as salary A notification to this effect, issued by Interestingly, the order was issued payments, rent and other purchases. Deputy Commissioner of Neelum less than 48 hours after two huge political “Where from will we return the recently, however, triggered strong anger gatherings held in Neelum valley under amount that we have already spent to the among the people affiliated with the tourism industry in the picturesque valley, the aegis of AJK's ruling Pakistan Muslim persons whose bookings you ask us to who said it was the “worst manifestation” League-Nawaz. cancel?” he asked. of the AJK government's “double In their reaction to the ban, people The guesthouse owner who did not standards”. affiliated with the tourism industry want to be identified maintained that long The notification said the ban would announced that they would stage a protest holidays helped his community earn as apply to the whole of AJK but in particular demonstration on July 15. much amount as could meet their recurring to Neelum valley where the number of “If hundreds of activists can visit expenditures during the lean period. visitors from across the country surpasses Neelum for political events while He said if the government was bent the rest of the territory owing to its brazenly disregarding the so-called upon stopping tourists it should offer a breathtakingly beautiful tourist locations. precautionary measures regarding Covid- package to the tourism industry people so The notification, which was 19 right under the nose of the entire that they could meet their unavoidable addressed to the officials concerned and government and no one in the expenses. SOPs tightened for tourists amid virus surge

hile the highest number The data of the NCOC showed that as Hotels of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber of new Covid-19 cases many as 27 deaths and 1,980 new cases Pakhtunkhwa and AJK have been directed Wsince June 2 has been were reported in a single day. Earlier 2,028 not to provide rooms to those people who reported and situation may worsen by cases were reported on June 2 and since have not been vaccinated. Moreover, Eidul Azha, head of the National then fewer number of cases were being special teams will be deployed to stop such Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) reported. The lowest number of cases was people from entering tourist destinations. Asad Umar has said that in Pakistan 27 reported on June 21 when only 663 The provinces have been further million people, over the age of 50, are the persons were infected. directed to ensure that non-vaccinated most vulnerable to serious effects of the The data further showed that there people do not enter restaurants, infection but only 20 per cent of them were 37,499 active cases as of July 11, out gymnasiums, cinemas and wedding halls. have received at least one shot of vaccine. of which 2,390 patients were admitted to Moreover, it will also be verified whether The NCOC has amended standard hospitals. The number of active cases was operating procedures (SOPs) for some of vaccination certificates are genuine. around 31,000 last month but it started An official of Ministry of the National the sectors, including tourism, and it has increasing in last week of June. Health Services, requesting not to be been decided that the SOPs would be Meanwhile, the NCOC has warned named, said that bus stops, railway strictly implemented to avoid chances of a that there are high chances of virus spread complete lockdown. People lacking stations, cattle markets, intercity transport on the occasion of Eidul Azha as the vaccination certificates will not be terminals, markets and mosques were people are violating the SOPs. allowed to enter tourist spots in Gilgit- major source of virus spread. “There are a number of variants of the Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad “NCOC has issued a checklist for Covid-19 so there is more need to ensure Jammu and Kashmir. district administrations and they have been “Pakistan has 2 crore 72 lakh people implementation of the SOPs in high-risk directed to take strict action against the who are 50 years or older. This age group sectors. All provinces have been directed violators,” he said. is most vulnerable to serious health effect to take steps to curtail spread of the virus “We appeal to the masses to get of Covid. So far 56 lakh or 20.6% of these and establish teams to ensure that people themselves vaccinated so that they are have gotten at least 1 dose of vaccine. wear masks and maintain social protected and do not become sources of Please encourage all in this age group to distancing,” the NCOC said. virus spread,” he said. vaccinate as soon as possible,” federal The provinces have been advised to According to data of the NCOC, Minister for Planning and Development ensure that people strictly adhere to the 19,883,900 doses of vaccines have been Asad Umar tweeted recently. SOPs in the cattle markets. administered to people so far.

AUGUST 2021 - 41 42 - AUGUST 2021 Pakistanies celebrate Independence Day with national zeal

akistan's 75th Independence said. Since there were many runners, the Day celebrations in the city race had to be held in batches with the Pbegan with 31gun salutes in B2RP volunteers keeping time for all. capital, Islamabad and 21 in Provincial The morning also belonged to the Capitals. In Karachi a smart change of Motor Club of Pakistan. More than 25 guard ceremony at the Mazar-i-Quaid lovers of classic and rare and exquisite cars here on Saturday 14 August also held. and other vehicles, including motorcycles, Alongside gun salutes, there were flag reached the Frere Hall for their 6th hoisting, singing of the national anthem Freedom Drive to the Mazar-i-Quaid. The and national songs, walks, races, rallies, drive was smaller and more selective this etc. year due to the pandemic. A smartly turned out contingent of the Leading the group was its founder Pakistan Naval Academy in ceremonial Razi Nayyar's pride and joy, his 1972 deep attire assumed guard duties at Mazar-i- green (matching the green of the Pakistan Quaid early in the morning. Commandant flag) Jaguar XJ6 Series-1. “My green Pakistan Naval Academy Commodore Jaguar has always led this rally since the Sohail Ahmed Azmie graced the occasion formulation of our Motor Club of Pakistan as the chief guest and reviewed the guard. in 2015,” he said. The car originally The chief guest and the Pakistan Navy belonged to the former prime minister of contingent presented the qaumi salam to Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. the Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam GOVERNOR Imran Ismail and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah hoist the national flag at the The motorcade left for the Mazar-i- Mohammed Ali Jinnah. This was Quaid's mausoleum on Saturday 14th August 2021. Quaid carrying the Pakistan flags. The followed by the laying of a wreath on vehicles that took part in the drive included behalf of the chief of the naval staff, and Mercedes, Ford Thunderbird, Volkswagen the officers and men of the Pakistan Navy. at many landmarks and official buildings of the city. Many schools in the city also Beetle, Mazda, Toyota, Chevrolet Caprice The chief guest also offered fateha and and Corvette, Triumph TR2, Rolls Royce recorded his remarks in the visitor's book remained open to celebrate Independence Day with singing and performing tableaux and several heavy bikes. by paying rich tributes to the beloved Earlier, on the eve of Independence Quaid. by the children. VIPs planted saplings at parks and gardens, too. Day, the Karachi Press Club held a very The day dawned with a gun salute by special cake cutting ceremony. The cake on the Pakistan Navy and special prayers in Aazadi Run and Freedom Drive This year, the trend seemed to be of the occasion, a 74-pound (to signify the all mosques and other places of worship 74th anniversary of the country's for the solidarity and progress of the big Pakistan flags. The bigger they were in size, the better. The running group independence) green and white flag replica country. Pakistan Navy Ships and that was as big as the table it was placed on, establishments were illuminated in a Born2Run Pakistan (B2RP) also brought with them a huge flag that they call was cut by the provincial minister for traditional manner. Flag hoisting information, labour and human resources, ceremonies were held at various units of grabbed the edges of and spread out in DHA Phase-8, where the runners had Saeed Ghani. the Pakistan Navy in Karachi, Gwadar and On the occasion Dr Huma also Ormara, Lahore and Islamabad along with gathered at 5.50am for their 5km Aazadi Run. presented national songs as her audience numerous other events, including a joined in with her. graceful display of the Pakistan Navy As many as 300 band. runners of all ages had Pakistan Navy also organised a registered for the run mangroves plantation exercise as part of for which the ribbon its 'Own a Tree' campaign in collaboration was cut by a senior with the Sindh forest department at t r a f f i c p o l i c e Satawa Creeks and Shah Bandar. The constable, Jahanzaib, mangroves plantation campaign will who had come to continue till August 20 and about 100,000 control traffic and mangroves/saplings will be planted at keep the cars away Shah Bandar to provide a safe and healthy from the runners' environment for the future generations. route. There were also boat rallies held at Sohail Sardar, the Gwadar and Ormara. founder of the B2RP On the occasion of Independence movement, said that a Day 2021, the president of Pakistan also healthy lifestyle was approved military and civil awards to his gift for the country. officers and civilians of the Pakistan “And we are all here Pakistan Rangers’Wing Commandar Hassan presents sweets to Indian today to convey this Border Security Force Commandant Jasbir Sing during a ceremony held to armed forces. celebrate Pakistans’ Independence Day at the Wagah border post near Lahore. 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