Islamabad, July 16, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed the UK Air Safety Board’s decision to lift the ban on Pakistani airlines, calling it a “positive development” that would improve the country’s global standing and enhance bilateral cooperation with the United Kingdom.
In an official statement, the prime minister said the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to the UK marks a significant milestone, especially for the 1.6 million Pakistanis residing in Britain. He also recalled that the original ban, imposed in 2020, was the result of “irresponsible statements” made by leaders of the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, which had severely impacted Pakistan’s international image.
The prime minister appreciated the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the Ministry of Defence, and the Aviation Division for their successful engagement with British authorities that led to the lifting of the restrictions.
He said the government was taking swift steps to improve the competitiveness of Pakistani airlines and align the country’s aviation sector with international safety and service standards. Efforts to enhance transparency and raise the quality of aviation services were already underway, he added.
Cabinet briefed on Muharram security, monsoon preparedness
Prime Minister Shehbaz also addressed a federal cabinet meeting held in Islamabad on Wednesday, where he commended provincial governments, the federal administration, and authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) for ensuring peaceful observance of Muharram.
He thanked law enforcement agencies and all stakeholders for maintaining law and order during the religious period and praised their coordination and vigilance.
Touching on disaster preparedness, the prime minister said he had chaired a high-level review meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) to ensure effective planning amid the ongoing monsoon season.
Expressing grief over recent rain-related casualties, particularly in Swat, he described the loss of lives as a national tragedy and stressed the need to learn lessons from such incidents to prevent future disasters. He commended NDMA’s readiness and emphasized proactive measures to protect lives and property.
Focus on governance, accountability, and development spending
On the economic front, PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction with recent improvements in macroeconomic indicators. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to performance and service delivery, announcing a bi-monthly evaluation system for all ministries.
“This message I want to make loud and clear—it is all about delivery and service to the nation,” he stated. Ministries showing strong performance would be acknowledged, while underperforming ones would be asked to explain and improve, he added.
The prime minister also praised Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal for the efficient use of development funds. He noted that development spending under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) had crossed Rs1 trillion—a significant achievement that reflects the government’s focus on infrastructure and economic growth.
