Serbia and Pakistan to ink air agreement

NEWS FLASH

Serbia and Pakistan will renegotiate an Air Service Agreement which dates back from the former Yugoslavia. Last week, the Pakistani government gave its approval for talks to begin. The new deal between Serbia and Pakistan has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries, the Pakistani government said. The agreement will provide commercial opportunities for carriers on both sides, ensuring greater safety and security. Air Serbia currently codeshares on Etihad Airways' flights from Abu Dhabi to Karachi and Lahore. The last time Belgrade was linked to Pakistan with a scheduled air service was during the 1970s and 1980s. JAT Yugoslav Airlines operated services to Sydney and Melbourne via Karachi, however the stop in Pakistan was dropped in favour of Dubai in 1974. On the other hand, Air China's predecessor, CAAC, operated services to Belgrade via Karachi until the mid-1980s.