ISLAMABAD: The Saudi Arabian government has granted special permission to the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) to fly 21 additional flights, on weekly basis, between the two countries.

According to the spokesperson of the national carrier, keeping in view the urgent need of many of the Pakistanis to reach Saudi Arabia for renewal of their aqamas, PIA had requested the Saudi Arabian government to allow additional flights.

Also Read: International organisation bars Pakistan’s CAA from issuing licenses to pilots

He said with increase in the number of flights the PIA will be able to transport 25,500 passengers from Pakistan before Sept 30 which is the deadline for many ensuring their presence in the kingdom.

On the other hand, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has barred Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority from issuing licenses to pilots.

The ICAO has reportedly issued a notice to the CAA saying that it was no longer allowed to issue licences to pilots, crew or engineers. The controversy of issuance of bogus licenses to hundreds of pilots surfaced paved the way for this action.