European Union lifts ban on Pakistan International Airlines cargo flights

KARACHI: Cash-strapped Pakistan International Airlines ( PIA) has got a rare boost as the European Union lifted a security ban prohibiting the flag-carrier from flying cargo to EU countries.

The EU had suspended PIA's cargo services to the EU in September because of non-compliance of regulatory security standards for foreign airlines.

"The EU has lifted the ban on PIA flying cargo to the EU bloc after we met their security requirements," a spokesman for the airlines today said.

"We have got clearance after installing dual view x-ray machines and explosive trace detectors to scan cargo booked on our flights," he added.

The EU tightened security controls on cargo freight and imposed the ban on PIA after a plot was uncovered to smuggle a bomb hidden in printer toner cartridges on a plane from Yemen in 2010.

Captain Salman Azhar, who heads PIA's safety and quality insurance, said getting the EU clearance was a big boost for PIA which required international business.

"They only gave approval after their experts came and audited our newly set up security protocol and installations for cargo freights," Azhar said.

"They were satisfied we were meeting international standards for safety and security."

He added the EU had approved the security and safety standards at the international airports of Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.

In June, the Karachi international airport was attacked by militants in a commando-style raid that left 38 people dead, including the 10 attackers.

The government has been contemplating to privatise the PIA after years of setbacks and financial losses running into millions of dollars.

The over-staffed PIA has faced embarrassing situations due to other incidents involving its cabin crew or pilots on international flights.

Last year, a PIA pilot was jailed in Manchester for showing up drunk to fly a plane with 156 people on board.