Britain has lifted a ban on Pakistani airlines following improvements in the country’s aviation safety standards, the UK's diplomatic mission in Islamabad said on Wednesday.
The UK’s Air Safety Committee imposed the ban after Pakistan’s aviation minister disclosed in June 2020 that nearly one-third of the country’s pilots had cheated in their licence exams.
The claim came after a Pakistan International Airlines crash killed 97 people on May 22, 2020, in the southern city of Karachi. The disaster was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control
Wednesday’s announcement follows a broader international recognition of Pakistan’s efforts to improve air safety. Earlier this year, Pakistan International Airlines, the national flag carrier, resumed direct flights to Europe after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency lifted its four-year ban.
The airline said it would resume services to Britain in “the shortest possible time” and the first flights would operate from Islamabad to Manchester.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said that after “extensive engagement” between the UK’s Air Safety Committee and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, restrictions on Pakistani airlines have been lifted.
Ms Marriott said individual airlines will still need to apply for operating permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
“I’m grateful to aviation experts in both the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative work to meet international safety standards,” she said. “While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends.”
The high commission emphasised that decisions on removing countries or carriers from the UK Air Safety List are made through an independent safety process overseen by the Air Safety Committee.
With more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK and thousands of British nationals living in Pakistan, the move will help families to reconnect and potentially boost bilateral trade ties, it said.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif welcomed the decision. Speaking at a televised news conference on Wednesday, he attributed the ban to “baseless” remarks by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.
Mr Asif said the claim tarnished the country’s image and triggered significant financial losses for Pakistan International Airlines.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
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Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
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- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
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- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
