ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has restored eight international routes in the last six months, according to Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

During the question hour Tuesday, in a written reply to a question asked by Kamran Murtaza, the minister told the Senate the restored routes include flights from Islamabad to Paris, Turbat to Sharjah and Al Ain, Gwadar to Muscat, Quetta to Jeddah, Faisalabad to Jeddah and Madinah and Lahore to Kuwait.

According to Khawaja Asif, the Islamabad-Paris-Islamabad route was resumed after a gap of almost four and a half years and 5 months, with Boeing 777 aircraft operating the flights. Likewise, the Turbat-Sharjah-Turbat route was restored after four months, while the Turbat-Al Ain-Turbat route resumed operations after five months. ATR aircraft are being used for flights on these routes.

He said the Gwadar-Muscat-Gwadar route was restored after 13 months, with ATR aircraft operating the flights. Similarly, the Quetta-Jeddah-Quetta route resumed operations after 3 years and 4 months, with A-320 aircraft operating the flights. The Faisalabad-Jeddah and Faisalabad-Madinah routes were restored after three years and four months, with Airbus A320 aircraft operating the flights. Finally, the Lahore-Kuwait-Lahore route was restored after seven months, with Airbus A320 aircraft operating the flights.