Direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh to begin next month

Direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh are set to begin next month, marking a significant step in improving connectivity between the two countries, Bangladesh’s top diplomat said Wednesday.

There have been no direct flights between the nations for several years. As bilateral relations improved this year, two Pakistani private airlines recently received approval to operate direct routes.

“Mahan Air will start three weekly flights between Dhaka and Karachi next month,” Bangladesh High Commissioner in Islamabad Iqbal Hussain Khan told businessmen at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He did not provide a specific launch date.

Khan said the visa process has been simplified, with approvals now issued on the joint recommendation of LCCI and the Bangladesh Honorary Consulate in Lahore, taking three to four days.

The three weekly flights, he said, will be a “significant leap in strengthening connectivity” between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Mahan Air is a privately owned Iranian airline based in Tehran.

Following political changes in Bangladesh, relations between Dhaka and Islamabad have steadily improved. In addition to passenger flights, Khan said a dedicated direct cargo service will soon be launched to meet rising trade demand.

LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol noted opportunities for increased bilateral trade, including rice exports from Pakistan and fresh pineapples from Bangladesh, along with potential collaboration in textiles, IT, automobiles, and other sectors. Bilateral trade currently stands at USD 700 million and could rise to USD 3 billion in the coming years, he said, with direct flights expected to further boost commerce.