Pakistan’s national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has been working with advantage since March 2024, an official told Parliament on Wednesday.

During the question of the National Assembly, parliamentary secretary Zeb Jaffar said Pia had recovered financially and had resumed flights to the European Union, including services to Paris.

In response to a request from MNA Sharmila Faruqi, Jaffar noted that harmful remarks previously made on the floor of the house had negatively affected the airline’s performance and reputation.

“The consequences of these comments were felt by the country,” she said.

He referred to a controversial statement from parliament by former Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI), resulting in a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (Pia) flights to several countries.

Jaffar confirmed that renewed engagement with EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had enabled Pia to restart flights to Europe. She added that discussions with British aviation regulators were also progress.

Lectures are also in the process of Turkish Airlines to improve the international connection for Pakistani passengers, she said.

The government aims to expand PIA’s operations to profitable destinations, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. Jaffar emphasized that these efforts are going on and that their results will become more clear in the coming months.

Pia has also launched direct flights from Lahore to Azerbaijans Baku, as part of his ongoing push to strengthen international air connections and promote tourism.

Last month, Pia reported his first annual profit of 21 years and marked a significant reversal as it went on with plans to sell the airline

According to documents seen by Bloomberg, PIA’s earnings registered per. Share of RS5.01 for the year ending in December, the first profitable year since 2003, based on audited accounts.