Water salute welcomes first in 22 years PIA flight to Damascus

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft receives water salute at the Damascus International Airport, Syria, on September 17, 2021, as it becomes the first Pakistani flight to land in Damascus in 22 years. (SANA)

• Flight from Karachi touched down at Damascus airport on Friday, with 300 people on board
• Syrian government welcomes the flight as 'important step' to develop economic relations

ISLAMABAD: The first Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight to reach the Syrian capital in 22 years has received a water salute at Damascus airport, the airline's chief executive confirmed in a video post on Saturday.

The flight from Karachi, carrying some 300 passengers, touched down at Damascus International Airport on Friday.

"After 22 years, #PIA landed in #Damascus with #pilgrims with an aim to promote religious tourism & restore relations with Syria," PIA chief Air Marshal Arshad Malik said in a tweet.

 

Alhamdolillah, After 22 years, #PIA landed in #Damascus, with #pilgrims with an aim to promote religious tourism & restore relations with Syria in line with the vision of @ImranKhanPTI & @GovtofPakistan. Salute to Amb Air Mshl Saeed M Khan for his great support long live PIA pic.twitter.com/yJgNJZb6jw

— Air Marshal Arshad Malik (@amarshadmalik) September 18, 2021

 

Syrian state-controlled news agency SANA reported the flight was welcomed by Syria's Transport Minister Zouheir Khzeim who said it was "an important step to develop the economic relations between the two countries."