The first flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) carrying passengers from Kabul, Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of the city landed in Islamabad on Thursday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The flight touched down at the Islamabad airport at 7 AM.
PIA CEO Arshad Malik welcomed the passengers at the airport, and also patted the back of plane crew members for bringing the passengers from Afghanistan. The passengers, too, were appreciative of the PIA administration.
#PIA resumed its Flt Ops to #Kabul with a special humanitarian flt coming back this morning, evacuating Pakistanis & other Nationals working for foreign missions, international news & relief agencies & reps of global institutions. PIA team was on ground assisting with the efforts pic.twitter.com/feMctKZPV6
— PIA (@Official_PIA) August 19, 2021
In order to ensure that the passengers have a safe journey, the PIA administration remained in constant touch with the Afghan government, Civil Aviation and the NATO officials.
CEO Arshad Malik directly monitored the operation of airlifting Pakistanis and people of some other nationalities stranded at Kabul airport from PIA’s situation room.
The administration of the national flag carrier remained in contact with the plane crew and the personnel of security agencies on the ground courtesy of the satellite system.
Prime Minister Imran Khan and other high-ranking officials of the government were also kept updated about the flight operation.
Besides Pakistanis, staff of some foreign missions in Kabul and officials of international organisations were also on board the flight.
Reporter Zeeshan Ahmed