New Delhi: India and Pakistan propose to restart flights following technical-level talks held in this regard on December 1, Rajya Sabha was informed today (Dec 9, 2003).

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Civil Aviation Minister Uday Pratap Rudy said both countries proposed to restart flights between Delhi-Karachi (3 times a week), Mumbai-Karachi (5 times a week) and Delhi-Lahore (4 times a week) as a result of the discussions.

"With this, the designated airlines of the two sides will be free to resume their services between the two countries with effect from January 1, 2004," he said.

The talks also suggested upgrading the flights between the two nations to higher capacity Boeing 747 series besides reopening the use of air space between the two countries.

Rudy said during the technical-level talks on Civil Aviation held in New Delhi on December 1, India and Pakistan agreed to resume direct air links and over-flights with effect from January 1, 2004 on a reciprocal basis.

PTI