The federal government is working out plans to begin direct flights from Nigeria to Pakistan, in its efforts to boost trade volume between the two countries.
The Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, at the weekend, led a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan, where he met with different government officials in civil aviation, trade and commerce to foster economic and trade relations.
At the meeting with the Acting Secretary of Aviation of Pakistan, Mr. Hassan Nafir, the Minister of aviation and his host agreed to take concrete steps towards the commencement of direct flights between Nigeria and Pakistan, in order to promote trade and tourism.
They also agreed that the subsisting Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Pakistan be revitalized within the shortest possible time.
To actualise the plan, a directive was given to officials of both countries present at the meeting to immediately meet to review the BASA and come up with a workable Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would ensure early commencement of direct flights.
They both expressed the view that the volume of passengers’ traffic should quadruple from the 7300 recorded last year, as it was noted that the two countries have the advantage of population towards making it happen.
Senator Sirika stated that, no doubt, flight connectivity had a greater role in cementing bilateral and economic relations between friendly nations of the world, and promised to facilitate the process before the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, whose government had done so well to promote the development of civil aviation in Nigeria.
Sirika also urged the business leaders of Pakistan to leverage the opportunities abound in the Aviation Sector in Nigeria, emphasizing that the four international airports in Nigeria have been designated as Economic Free Trade Zones with all the advantages that goes with such designations.
