Pakistan can’t start direct flights to US(US doesn't trust security arrangements)

Pakistan can’t start direct flights to US

By Irfan Ghauri

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cannot start direct flights to the United States because the US has reservations about security arrangements at Pakistani airports, Parliamentary Secretary Syed Tanveer Hussain told the National Assembly during the Question Hour on Friday.

Although Pakistan has made elaborate security arrangements at all airports, US authorities are not satisfied with them, he said, adding that the US would help Pakistan enhance security at all Pakistani airports.

To a question, the secretary said that one ATR plane had arrived to replace Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) grounded Fokker planes, while six more ATR planes would arrive by June 2007.

Agencies add: Hussain also told the assembly that steps had been taken to make the PIA a profitable organisation.

To another question, Hussain said the government would encourage private sector to set up cold storages at major airports of the country to facilitate exports of agricultural products.