Japan Airlines wants to start flights on the Islamabad-Bangkok-Tokyo route, announced Japanese Ambassador Kuninori Matsuda during a meeting with Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan.

The Japanese Ambassador said,

PIA has two weekly flights on the route of Islamabad-Beijing-Tokyo. Japanese Airline wants to start flight on Islamabad-Bangkok-Tokyo route.

The Minister thanked the ambassador for enhancing the Fifth Freedom Rights quota in March 2019 from 1300 passengers to 4000 passengers per month and from 40 tons of cargo to 100 tons of cargo per month.

Sarwar had asked for enhancing Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights’ capacity between Beijing and Tokyo from 4000 monthly passengers to 5000 monthly passengers and cargo capacity between Beijing and Tokyo from 100 tons per month to 200 tons per month for the designated airlines of Pakistan.

Agreements Between Japan and Pakistan

An Air Services Agreement between Pakistan and Japan was initiated on October 17, 1961, and signed on July 12, 1962. The ASA stipulates a single airline designation with PIA being the designated airline of Pakistan and JAL (Japan Airlines) being the designated carrier of Japan.

The existing bilateral arrangements, as envisaged in the agreed minutes of September 25, 1987, include for Pakistan 2 capacity units (B-767) via Beijing and 3 capacity units via Southern routes. The Japanese Airline includes 5 capacity units.

Assistance With ASF and PMD

Khan also thanked Ambassador for Japan’s help through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the Airport Security Force (ASF) and Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The equipment that has been provided by JICA in phase 1 through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) includes an X-ray machine, auto clear, a vehicle scanner and a cargo scanner. In phase 2, JICA will provide equipment to CAA including, hold baggage explosive, liquid explosive detection system, and a baggage handling system.

The Minister recommended that ASF Staff should be provided with institutional technical training for JICA equipment. He also asked the Ambassador to reduce the time span between the planning stage and equipment provision by JICA.

Ghulam Sarwar Khan also thanked Ambassador for sponsoring PMD projects. He told that Specialized Medium Range Forecast Centre (SMRFC) has been constructed in Islamabad through Japanese aid, at a cost of Rs. 2.5 billion. Japan also helped in the installation of Weather Surveillance Radars at Karachi, Multan, Lahore, and Sukkar.

The Japanese ambassador said that Japan wants to invest in Pakistan’s textile and auto industry.

He also said that Japan is interested in Pakistan’s skilled manpower in the fields of industry, construction, agriculture, fishing, food and beverages, and the aviation industry