PM Imran to use PAF aircraft for US visit in austerity bid

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will use a small aircraft of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) instead of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) plane for his upcoming visit to the United States in a bid to cut the expenses, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Imran observed that previous premiers used PIA aircraft for their foreign trips which incurred losses to the national flag carrier.

Imran is scheduled to embark on a visit to the US on July 21 upon the invitation of the US President Donald Trump. The following day, he is scheduled to meet the US president at the White House to discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional matters.

The PM’s US visit would be the first summit-level engagement between Pakistan and the United States since both leaders assumed their respective offices.

During his various engagements in Washington, the prime minister will outline his vision of “Naya Pakistan” and underscore the importance Pakistan attaches to a broader and multi-faceted relationship with the United States.

In the regional context, the premier will underscore Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability and the importance of constructive engagement to promote a political solution in Afghanistan.

He will also highlight Pakistan’s policy of ‘peaceful neighborhood’ aimed at resolving disputes through dialogue and promoting the vision of peace, progress, and prosperity in South Asia and beyond.