In a bid to boost trade volume between Nigeria and Pakistan, which is currently pegged at $210m, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation, is working out modalities to begin direct air services to the Asian country.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, led a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan, where he met with different government officials in civil aviation, trade, and commerce to foster economic and trade relations.
Sirika, who spoke through his Special Assistant, James Odaudu, in a statement, noted that the mission, which was facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria in collaboration with the Africa Center for Asia +B Studies enabled the minister to engage with the acting secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Aviation, the president of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the country’s minister of commerce.
The statement disclosed that at the meeting with the Acting Secretary of Aviation of Pakistan, Mr Hassan Nafir, Sirika and his host agreed to take concrete steps towards the commencement of direct flights between Nigeria and Pakistan, in order to promote trade and tourism.
According to the statement, “It was also disclosed that they agreed that the subsisting Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and Pakistan should be revitalized within the shortest possible time.
“To actualise the plan, a directive was given to officials of both countries present at the meeting to immediately meet to review the BASA and come up with a workable Memorandum of Understanding that would ensure the early commencement of direct flights.
“They both expressed the view that the volume of passengers traffic should quadruple from the 7,300 recorded last year, as it was noted that the two countries have the advantage of a large population that would make the dream a reality
