Karachi-Dhaka direct flights to start in January

Pakistan envoy to Bangladesh discusses expanding trade, investment, and aviation ties in meeting with Muhammad Yunus

Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider expressed hope that Karachi-Dhaka direct flights will start in January during his meeting with Bangladesh government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House in Dhaka.

According to a post on X, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and aviation, as well as scaling up cultural, educational, and medical exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations.

The Pakistani high commissioner noted that bilateral trade has recorded a 20 per cent growth compared to last year, with business communities from both countries actively exploring new investment opportunities.

He also highlighted a significant increase in cultural exchanges, adding that Bangladeshi students have shown strong interest in higher education opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in medical sciences, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence.

Pakistan High Commissioner Calls on Chief Adviser

DHAKA, December 28: High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, on Sunday paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House in Dhaka.

During the meeting, both sides discussed… pic.twitter.com/mamTlGfya6

— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) December 28, 2025

Haider further said that Pakistan has witnessed a rise in patients travelling to its leading hospitals for liver and kidney transplants, and noted that Pakistan is ready to offer training and academic opportunities in transplantation-related medical fields.

Yunus welcomed the growing interactions between the two countries and emphasised the importance of increased visits, as well as cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges among SAARC member states.

He also underscored the need to further boost Bangladesh–Pakistan trade and expressed hope that during Haider’s tenure, both countries would explore new avenues for investment and joint venture businesses.

SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.

Flights suspended in 2015

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suspended its Bangladesh operations on February 25, 2015, halting five weekly flights.

The move followed a raid by Bangladeshi authorities on the residence of the airline’s station manager in Dhaka.

The route faced another setback in 2018, when PIA again suspended flights to Bangladesh after one of its officials was allegedly mistreated by security personnel in Dhaka.

It was not always a story of suspensions. In 2011, the national flag carrier had doubled its flights to Dhaka - a decision that reportedly drew concern from Bangladesh’s national airline, Biman.