ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh are set to resume direct air connectivity after more than a decade, marking a significant step toward improved bilateral relations and regional cooperation.
Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, announced on Thursday that it will relaunch direct flights between Karachi and Dhaka starting January 29, with services operating twice a week. These will be the first regular direct flights between the two countries since 2012.
An official of Biman Bangladesh Airlines said the resumption of the route aims to enhance people-to-people contact and facilitate trade, tourism, and business travel between the two nations.
“The relaunch of direct flights will significantly improve connectivity between Pakistan and Bangladesh, supporting commercial activities, tourism, and family visits,” the airline said in a statement.
Currently, travelers between Pakistan and Bangladesh rely on indirect routes via Gulf transit hubs, including Dubai and Doha, resulting in longer travel times and higher costs.
Pakistan and Bangladesh, once part of a single state before their separation in 1971, have witnessed a gradual improvement in relations in recent months amid shifting regional dynamics.
Bilateral engagement has increased following political changes in Bangladesh, with both sides exploring avenues to expand cooperation in trade, transport, and cultural exchanges.
In November last year, cargo shipping services resumed between Karachi and Bangladesh’s port of Chittagong, contributing to a rise in bilateral trade. Cultural interactions have also expanded, including performances by Pakistani artists in Dhaka, while Bangladeshi patients have increasingly sought medical treatment in Pakistan.
The restoration of direct flights is expected to further strengthen economic and people-to-people ties and open new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.