ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the state-run carrier, has officially resumed its flights to the United Kingdom after a five-year hiatus. The ban, initially imposed in June 2020 following a deadly plane crash in Karachi and the subsequent exposure of a fake pilot license scandal, was lifted after rigorous safety audits and reforms. The first flight, a Boeing 777 from Islamabad to Manchester, took off on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery journey. The European Union had already lifted its ban in November 2024, paving the way for PIA to restore its suspended routes earlier this year. Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, emphasized the importance of these flights for the 1.4 million Pakistanis residing in the UK and Europe, highlighting their role in bolstering Pakistan’s economy through remittances. Asif also announced plans to expand services to London and Birmingham, calling the initiative a moral and national duty. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mohammad Faisal, lauded the relaunch as a transformative step for economic and cultural ties, projecting substantial revenue generation, enhanced trade, and increased tourism between the two nations.