Pakistan is in deep crisis due to ever increasing financial meltdown, over and above tough conditions by IMF have further damaged our economy coupled with depreciation in Pakistani rupee has forced us to look for new avenues. Prime Minister has appealed to overseas Pakistanis to invest more in setting up new industries so that reliance on IMF loans is avoided. Our depleted position of foreign exchange that covers hardly one month’s import bill has further aggravated the situation. Thanks to overseas Pakistanis who are continuing to extend maximum help in ongoing financial crisis by sending more remittances through official channels. But, to overcome deep crisis Pakistan badly needs new investors to come forward. Pakistan’s geographical importance cannot be overemphasized it provides ample opportunities to new investors to explore our potentials.
Pakistan badly needs foreign exchange and the two main sources are our exports and aviation sector. Aviation sector’s contribution estimated $2 billion of GDP. Spending by foreign tourists supports a further US $ 1.3 billion of the country’s GDP totaling $ US 3.3 billion. In total,1 % of the country’s GDP is supported by inputs to the air transport sector and foreign tourists arriving by air. It was result of wrong policies that has mainly been responsible in lowering revenue in aviation sector. We deliberately sold our lucrative routes to foreign airlines without protecting our own national carrier. PIA has been one of the best airline in the world with slogan “Great People to Fly with” under the dynamic leadership of late AM Asghar Khan and Noor Khan. There was a time when 40 to 45 airlines were roaring in our skies but now more than half are missing. PIA just needed few bigger aircrafts 777 to take traffic to various European countries instead we sold routes creating problems for the international travelers specially Canada and USA who were forced to break their journey in Dubai, Doha and Istanbul. Few new airlines addition in Pakistan has helped in easing the situation on domestic routes but people travelling to Canada and US still facing problems due to non-availability of direct flights and stop overs.
As reported in the media the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in Pakistan has granted approval to Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, a UAE-based airline, to operate its flights in the country. This decision was made to facilitate travelers between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. This comes after the Turkish airline Sun Express, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, was also given permission to start operations in Pakistan. This has in a way eased the situation by providing more travel options for passengers apart from creating a healthy competition that would be beneficial to travelers as competition is bound to end up in better facilities to travelers with reduced fares and good inflight services. Ethiopian Airlines has also announced direct flight operations between Karachi, Pakistan and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Moreover, these new airline operations will also boost our newly expanded tourism industry in Pakistan. More airlines mean more tourists from around the world with end result in earning more foreign exchange.
Pakistan’s liberal policy has attracted new investors from Canada. Canadian airline ZARA Airways has unveiled plans in local hotel to launch direct flight from Canada to Pakistan after completing regulators(CAA) formalities. People by and large have welcomed this new airline that will provide them with direct access from Canada to Pakistan and back without any hassle. The investor deserves congratulations and appreciation in introducing direct flight from Toranto to Karachi to facilitate Pakistanis living in Canada. The management has promised to add later on direct flights to Lahore and Islamabad. Unfortunately, red tapism in Pakistan has shaken the confidence of new investors as at every step hurdles are created to discourage them. Government claims one window operation to facilitate new investors but practically one window operation is converted in to different doors causing un necessary delays in issuing permission. There is need to fix time frame as being practiced in UAE, you deposit the papers for opening any industry and within one week you get the permission letter from the counter. Pakistan badly needs foreign exchange therefore any entrepreneur who is investing millions of dollars wants hassle free working environment. Let us establish healthy traditions by granting permissions for setting up any industry in 7 days. Prime Minister should open monitoring desk to ensure that no investor is put through to any inconvenience by any department and agencies. We welcome ZARA Airways to Pakistan and ensure them full cooperation from people of Pakistan making it a success story.
The recent developments in Pakistan’s aviation industry headed by aviation minister Saad Rafiq who is very active and energetic has assured investors of friendly atmosphere. There is urgent need to increase the number of airlines operating in Pakistan and bring back all those airlines who discontinued their operations in Pakistan irrespective of the reasons. The addition of more airlines and resumption of direct flights apart from providing travelers convenience shall boost up economic benefits and enhance bilateral relations between Pakistan and other countries. These developments also indicate the growing confidence in the present government by the overseas investors to invest in Pakistan’s aviation sector. It is hoped CAA would extend full help to new aviation investors and attract more airlines. More airlines mean more revenue that is need of the hour.