Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched regular service to Iraq, as the first scheduled flight of the national carrier, which had departed for Najaf on Oct 30, returned to Karachi on Sunday morning.
PIA had been previously operating special flights to Najaf.
When the first scheduled flight (PK-219) of the national carrier with Iraqi Ambassador Hamid Abbas Lufta and PIA CEO Arshad Malik among 91 passengers aboard landed at Najaf, it was given a water cannon salute by crash tenders with powerful cannons on taxiway at the airport.
Najaf Governor Luay Yasry, Pakistani Ambassador Ahmed Amjad Ali, the head of Iraqi civil aviation and religious leaders welcomed the passengers at the airport.
