ISLAMABAD: In the past six days, a total of 708 flights departing from Pakistan to Middle Eastern countries have been canceled due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
According to reports, the rising tensions in the region resulted in the cancellation of 130 flights on Thursday alone, affecting routes to the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and other destinations.
At Karachi Airport, 30 flights bound for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Sharjah, Kuwait, and Bahrain were suspended. Islamabad saw the cancellation of 36 flights to the same destinations. Lahore Airport reported 22 cancellations to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, while Peshawar experienced 14 cancellations to Dubai, Sharjah, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
Similarly, Multan Airport canceled 14 flights to Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Khaleejah, Bahrain, Doha, and Kuwait. Sialkot Airport reported 10 cancellations to Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and other Middle Eastern cities. Faisalabad also suspended four flights to the region.
Overall, the cancellations over the six-day period have reached 708, highlighting the significant impact of regional instability on air travel from Pakistan to the Middle East.
Additionally, the conflict has disrupted Pakistan’s meat exports to Middle Eastern countries due to the closure of airspace and maritime routes amid the Iran-Israel war. For the fifth consecutive day, the supply of beef and mutton to Gulf markets has been halted, further straining trade links affected by the ongoing hostilities.
