The first direct flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from Islamabad arrived in Beijing Sunday, two days before the scheduled arrival of Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at Beijing on 1 November. According to China Economic Net (CEN), after suspended operation between Beijing and Islamabad since February 10, 2020 due to COVID-19, PIA now officially resumed its operation between the two capital cities.  The first flight PK-854 with 61 passengers on board arrived at Beijing Capital Airport at 14:55 pm local time on Sunday. A Pakistani passenger Khan Raza told CEN that he is very excited to arrive in Beijing, adding that he has business in Beijing and a direct flight suits him. " I was waiting for a direct flight to Beijing for the last two months and luckily I got one.

Now I can resume my business activities. A direct flight has two major advantages for me. One is short distance, and secondly, low fare", he added. Talking to China Economic Net, Abbasi Shahzad said he was studying in Beijing but was stuck due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The direct flight has facilitated him to resume his study right at his university in Beijing. "I'm very happy today that I safely reached Beijing and the ticket I got is a much-discounted fare as compared to previous months. After quarantine, I will resume my off-line study", he stated. It is to be noted that PIA is expanding its flight network for China and having direct flights to Chengdu, Xi'an, and Beijing and it is expected that PIA will start the Lahore-Guangzhou operation in December this year.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP