Islamabad: India and Pakistan are all set to restore direct and over flight links, suspended two years ago after attack on Indian Parliament, from the New Year (2004), with the first Indian Airlines (IA) flight likely to take off for Lahore from Delhi on January 1, 2004.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced today (Dec 19, 2003) the resumption of direct flights to Delhi and Mumbai and over flights using Indian airspace to Dhaka, Colombo, Kathmandu and Sharjah.

Pakistani Civil Aviation officials in Islamabad said that the first IA flight is likely to reach Lahore from Delhi on January 1, 2004.

Initially, IA will operate four flights a week from Mumbai to Karachi and New Delhi to Lahore, they said, adding that the IA has also made arrangements for opening up its offices in Lahore and Karachi.

Also, over 120 flights of IA and Air India flying to Far East and Europe would be using Pakistani skies that would reduce the flying time thus saving time and money, they said.

Over 15 PIA flights to Southeast Asia and Gulf would begin using Indian skies benefiting from the lifting of the ban on over flights by both the countries, they said.

PTI