The United Kingdom has lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, including the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), allowing them to apply for permits to operate flights to the UK. This decision was announced by the UK’s Air Safety Committee and confirmed by the British High Commission in Islamabad. The ban was originally imposed following a deadly 2020 crash involving PIA and revelations of fake pilot licenses, which raised serious safety concerns. The UK’s removal of Pakistan from its Air Safety List follows improvements in Pakistan's aviation safety standards. The European Union had lifted a similar ban on Pakistani airlines the previous year, with PIA resuming flights to Europe in January 2025. The lifting of the UK ban coincides with Pakistan's efforts to privatize PIA. Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, have welcomed the decision, viewing it as a major achievement for the country's aviation sector. Airlines will still need to obtain individual permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority to operate flights. The ban had cost PIA millions in revenue and operational disruptions over the past five years.