Karachi (Web Desk): The first flight from Dhaka landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Thursday as direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh resumed after a gap of 14 years.
Bangladesh’s national carrier Biman Airlines operate its first direct flight from Dhaka to Karachi.
Bangladesh national airline launched its inaugural flight from Dhaka to Karachi.
The flight, welcomed by Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori alongside airport officials, was offered a traditional water salute upon arrival.
Speaking on the occasion the Sindh governor hailed masses of the two countries who respect and admire each other
He said that the governments and people of Bangladesh have defeated the Indian conspiracies against the two brothery countries.
Earlier Pakistan’s High Commission in Dhaka stated that the maiden flight took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with all seats occupied and arrived at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.
The departure ceremony was attended by Bangladesh’s Adviser for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Sheikh Bashiruddin, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, along with other senior representatives, the High Commission said.
In an official message, the mission described the restoration of the air link as a meaningful development that would help improve connectivity and strengthen cooperation between the two countries after more than a decade.
While speaking at the event, Bangladesh’s civil aviation and tourism adviser stressed the value of the Dhaka–Karachi route in improving travel links, encouraging tourism and fostering closer people-to-people interaction.
He said the airline intends to steadily increase the number of weekly flights and work toward lowering fares so that more passengers can afford to travel. He also expressed the hope that Bangladeshi travelers would visit Pakistan to see its scenic landscapes, historical landmarks and varied cuisine.
On the same occasion, Pakistan’s high commissioner pointed to the shared outlook of Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on enhancing ties through better connectivity. He recalled that during Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka in August last year, both sides agreed to take prompt steps to bring back direct flights, in line with the leadership’s vision and the wishes of their people.
Regional diplomatic alignments have evolved in recent years. Bangladesh’s relations with India became strained after the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, while engagement with Pakistan has gradually improved.
Sea trade has also regained momentum, with cargo vessels resuming journeys from Karachi to Bangladesh’s major port of Chittagong in November 2024. Since then, commercial exchanges have grown and cultural interactions have increased, including concerts by prominent Pakistani singers in Dhaka. At the same time, more Bangladeshi patients have been traveling to Pakistan for medical treatment.