ISLAMABAD: In the latest initiative to strengthen people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Syria, the Cham Wings Airlines of Syria commenced its flight operations between Damascus and Lahore, the cultural heart of Pakistan, on Monday.
An aircraft of Cham Wings Airlines landed in Lahore the capital of Punjab province at 12:27 p.m. from Damascus and returned back to Damascus at 14:30 p.m.
A special ceremony to welcome the launch of flight from Damascus to Lahore was held at Allama Iqbal International Airport which was attended by Syrian embassy officials and Pakistani aviation officials.
Lahore is the second largest city of Pakistan so the commencement of this flight can be an effective step in the development of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Syria.
It is pertinent to mention that Cham Wings Airlines is already operating a weekly flight from Damascus to Karachi which it started in 2019.
Cham Wings Airlines, the first Syrian private airline company was founded in 2007 and conducts its operations using Airbus 320 planes.
Earlier, Ambassador of the Syrian to Pakistan, Dr. Ramez Alraee in a video message expressing joy over the start of Cham Wings flight to Lahore said: It’s a matter of great honour and happiness for me that we are welcoming the first flight of Cham Wings in Lahore.
“It’s a result of mutual efforts of the officials of both the countries, Foreign Ministry of Syria, Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, Pakistan Embassy in Damascus and Syrian Embassy in Islamabad,” the Ambassador added.
He termed the arrival of Cham Wings flight in Lahore as a major step. He expressed the resolve that Pakistan and Syria will go together to achieve more as we are always cooperating with each other.
“We will continue this good work in future to bring more achievements for the two brotherly countries,” Dr. Ramez Alraee said.
The ambassador while speaking to the APP news agency said the business communities of both countries need to strengthen bilateral relations so that both sides’ economic relations can develop, and trade can increase.
He said that many people from Pakistan go to Syria for pilgrimage and after this flight operation the religious tourism between the two countries will increase.
Speaking to APP, the President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Atif Ikram and the leadership of various chambers welcomed the flight from Syria to Lahore and called it important in promoting economic and trade relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Syria, Dr. Ramez Alraee on Monday called on the Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq at the Parliament House and discussed matters pertaining to bilateral relations and important regional and international issues.
According to a statement issued by the National Assembly Secretariat the Speaker during the meeting said that Pakistan and Syria enjoy historic and brotherly relations, both countries are tied by the bond of shared religion, fraternity, history and culture.
He added that Pakistan would continue its unwavering cooperation and support to Syria in education, trade, tourism, especially religious tourism. He noted that Pakistan fully supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and desires durable peace in Syria.
Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq lauded the commencement of commercial flight operations of Syrian Airlines between Damascus and Lahore. The speaker was confident that flight operations of Cham Wings would promote people-to-people contact, trade and tourism between both brotherly nations. He also appreciated the hospitality extended by Syria to Pakistani Pilgrims visiting holy sites in Syria.
Syrian Ambassador, Dr. Ramez Alraee in his remarks said that Syria values high its historic relations with Pakistan and the Syrian government wants to further strengthen the existing ties through enhanced cooperation in diverse fields.
