By SPA
Islamabad : Pakistan and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoD) to increase the weekly frequency of flights by threefold from five to fourteen.
Delegations of the two countries met to liberalize the existing Air Services Agreement (ASA) between the two countries, said an official statement.
Pakistan delegation was led by Maj Gen Mir Haider Ali Khan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence, whereas the Sri Lankan delegation was headed by D.T.P. Collure, Secretary Ministry of Ports and Aviation of Sri Lanka.
The MoU provides that the designated airlines of Sri Lanka would operate also to Islamabad and Gwadar in addition to Karachi and Lahore.
In reciprocity, the designated airlines of Pakistan can also operate the agreed services from any point in Pakistan to Colombo.
The designated airlines of both countries are allowed to operate any number of cargo flights with full traffic rights between the two countries.
The two sides also agreed to include new articles on Aviation Security and Aviation Safety in the ASA. The article on designation of airlines was amended to allow multiple airlines operation.
In addition to the Pakistan International Airlines or PIA, Pakistan designated Shaheen Air International and Air Blue to utilize the agreed traffic rights whereas Sri Lankan designated Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. And Expo Aviation (Pvt) Ltd. to operate passenger and cargo services respectively, in addition to Sri Lankan Airlines.
The liberal traffic rights now agreed win enhance trade, commerce and people to people contact between the two countries.