In another significant step towards implementing the Cabinet decision to allow private domestic carriers to fly to SAARC countries, the Government today formally proposed to Islamabad that existing air bilateral agreement be modified to allow these carriers to schedule regular flights to Pakistan.It’s learnt that after consultations with the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Ministry of External Affairs sent a note to Pakistan proposing the designation of multiple carriers in the existing air bilateral agreement.Unlike air bilateral agreements with other SAARC countries, the India-Pakistan arrangement designates only Indian Airlines and Pakistan International Airlines from either side to operate scheduled flights. So, for implementing the December 10 Cabinet decision, India has to first modify the present agreement with Pakistan.But the note does not seek an increase in the number of allocated air bilaterals. Civil Aviation Ministry sources said private carriers Jet Airways and Air Sahara will have to operate on the bilateral unutilised by Indian Airlines.It’s learnt that over half the air bilaterals with Pakistan are lying unutilised with Indian Airlines operating just two flights a week between Delhi and Lahore. While it has filed a schedule for operating services between Mumbai and Karachi too, the proposed time table has not been approved by the Immigration Department.It must be noted that India had agreed to modify the air bilateral agreement to allow jumbo operations at the talks for the resumption of air links between both countries. While Indian Airlines does not have jumbo aircraft, the modification benefited PIA.But while this proposal gets processed through diplomatic channels, the Government has already given the green signal to private domestic carriers to apply for operating special flights during the India-Pakistan cricket series next month. For further facilitating the large number of people expected to cross the Wagah for the cricket series, the Pakistani side has, in turn, proposed running additional buses between Amritsar and Lahore. In fact, the Pakistan High Commission also plans holding a visa camp at Amritsar for this purpose.According to official sources, both India and Pakistan are still working out the transport details for the cricket series and will also take up the possibility of allowing cricket tourists to cross the Wagah on foot.Meanwhile, the Pakistan High Commission today made it clear that visa applications for the cricket series will be processed only if the applicant has a confirmed ticket for the match. While a three-day visa will be issued for the one-day internationals, a weeklong visa will be granted for the test matches.
