Afghan citizens and government officials say they are hopeful that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will soon resume air operations to Kabul at cheaper fares than it did before the Taliban came to power.
According to Arab News, after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August, the PIA resumed special flights from Kabul to Islamabad, prompting many Afghans seeking refuge in Pakistan to escape the new government and economic crisis. Were
However, many airlines have canceled their flights to Afghanistan, while PEA flights have become out of reach for Afghans.
According to a travel agent in Kabul, a PIA ticket sells for 2, 2,500, up from 120 120 to 150 150 before the Taliban came to power.
Earlier this week, the Taliban's Ministry of Transport issued a statement calling on the airline to sell tickets for flights from Kabul to Islamabad. The ministry warned that if this was not done, it would not allow air operations from Kabul airport.
PIA officials responded by saying they had suspended flights to Kabul because of the Taliban's unprofessional behavior.
"We hope that Pakistan International Airlines will understand and comply with the demands of the Islamic Emirate Transport and Aviation," Bilal Karimi, a member and spokesman for the Taliban Cultural Commission, told Arab News.
"We want to provide a means for ordinary Afghans who want to go to Pakistan, but they don't have that much budget."
Syed Masood, a professor of economics at Kabul University, said: "The demand for going to Islamabad has increased. Everyone wants to reach Islamabad as soon as possible so that they can go somewhere else." Pakistan International Airlines is doing this to make more money.
Although the PIA has not announced when it intends to resume flights to Afghanistan or when, it will do so, but the airline's representative in Kabul, Ahmed Saleem Rouhani, told Arab News that he is hopeful that the flight operation will be cheaper. Will be back soon.
"Once the flights are restored, we hope the tickets will come back at lower prices," he said.
