ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (APP): Amidst the uncertainty in Afghanistan, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is actively carrying out its operations from Kabul having evacuated 1100 people within two days with more such flights in the pipeline.
Considering the volume of demand, the national flag carrier increased the number of flights from five to 14 for this week. Moreover, it also converted its flights from previous Airbus A320 to much bigger Boeing 777 planes to evacuate maximum number of people.
According to an official, the PIA had evacuated nearly 1100 people from Kabul after which the airport was run over by the crowd and all airport set up got dismantled.
The PIA has now coordinated with AFCENT and has just resumed its operations to Kabul.
The first flight after the takeover by Taliban has already reached Kabul and is scheduled to evacuate over 320 people of World Bank to Pakistan.
The evacuation operation started considering the panic among the foreign missions and a number of world institutions and companies stationed in Kabul and desiring to leave the country.
The Pakistan Embassy in Afghanistan immediately contacted PIA which started planning flights to Kabul to assist with the repatriation mission.
Comprehending the humanitarian need, the PIA CEO also offered the support to other nationalities, global institutions and multinational companies wanting to evacuate their citizens from Kabul
Immediately, the PIA was also approached by the US nationals, missions of Philippines, Canada, Germany, Japan and Netherlands, besides other world institutions, international news agencies asking for capacity and schedule to evacuate their people.
The permissions and planning was conducted by a specially set up operational desk involving representations of flight operations, flight safety, security and PIA local teams.
The PIA chief was personally supervising the desk and was in contact with Afghanistan CAA, military officials, Pakistan’s Embassy in Kabul and foreign ministry.
The next missions are already planned and will commence from tomorrow to evacuate other nationalities, including foreign journalists and their aides.
