The Pakistani government’s diplomatic efforts bore fruit on Tuesday evening when the European Union (EU) allowed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate flights to all European countries until July 3.

Earlier on Tuesday, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency banned PIA flights in Europe due to the fake pilot licence scandal. Hours later, the British Civil Aviation Authority also suspended all PIA flights. According to a CAA UK spokesperson, PIA flights from Birmingham, London and Manchester were suspended.

Keeping in view gravity of the situation, the authorities in Pakistan swung into action. Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood reached out to ambassadors of all European countries on an emergency basis in an effort to win some relief for the national flag carrier. As a result, the EU allowed the PIA to land in Europe and overfly the European countries until July 3.

The PIA management, Foreign Ministry of Pakistan and Pakistani ambassadors were consistently in touch with the European authorities on Tuesday. Now the PIA flights PK-785 and PK-786 from Islamabad to London and London to Islamabad would operate as per their schedule.

PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan has said that schedule for more flights would be announced soon.