Pakistan's embattled national airline is set to resume flights to Europe on January 10, following the lifting of a four-year ban by European Union authorities, according to a statement released by the company on Saturday.

The statement from Pakistan International Airline (PIA), which was embroiled in a pilot license scandal, announced that a 'PIA flight will depart from Islamabad to Paris on January 10.' Initially, two flights will be operated weekly (on Friday and Sunday), with plans to gradually increase the frequency.

PIA was prohibited from flying to the EU in June 2020, a month after one of its aircraft crashed into a street in Karachi, resulting in the deaths of nearly 100 people. The crash was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control, and was followed by allegations that nearly a third of the airline's pilot licenses were fake or questionable.

Despite the lifting of the European ban, PIA remains barred from operating in the United States. Following the EU's decision last week, a spokesperson for the carrier stated that they would 'strictly adhere to EASA's regulations and guidelines,' referring to the European Union's aviation authority.

PIA, which employs 7,000 people, has frequently been criticized for being overstaffed and poorly managed, plagued by unpaid bills, safety concerns, and regulatory issues. The Pakistani government has expressed its commitment to privatizing the debt-ridden airline and has been actively seeking a buyer. However, a recent deal fell through after a potential buyer offered a significantly lower price than expected.

The sale of PIA was also a condition set by the IMF in exchange for aid programs, which included the privatization of public companies, broadening the tax base, and ending subsidies for the 40% of Pakistanis living below the poverty line. In 2023, PIA reported losses of $270 million, with liabilities nearly reaching $3 billion, which is about five times the total value of its assets. Last year, the airline was forced to cancel dozens of flights due to an inability to afford fuel.

Speaking to reporters last week, Pakistan's aviation minister Khawaja Asif described the restoration of flights to Europe as a 'major value addition' that would make the airline more appealing to potential buyers. PIA was established in 1955 when the government nationalized a struggling commercial airline, experiencing rapid growth until the 1990s.

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