PIA cancels all international flights

Decision taken 'in accordance with the directives of Government of Pakistan'

The national carrier on Saturday suspended all international flights in the wake of the novel coronavirus' spread across the world.

The suspension is in effect till March 28, confirmed the airline's official Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Official_PIA/status/1241291825807327232

The decision comes "in accordance with the directives of Government of Pakistan," Pakistan International Airline added.

According to the tweet, all cancellations will be effective from March 21, starting at 8pm until March 28.

Pakistan confirmed the third casualty from the virus on Friday, two days after two men – both pilgrims returning from Iran and Saudi Arabia – died of the coronavirus in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The third casualty – a septuagenarian cancer survivor – was confirmed in Karachi.

The nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients has crossed 500 with 267 cases in Sindh; 104 in Balochistan; 96 in Punjab; 23 in K-P; 21 in Gilgit-Baltistan; five in Islamabad; and one in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.