LAHORE: An Iran Air flight scheduled to operate from Tehran to Lahore was not permitted to land at Allama Iqbal International Airport on Wednesday morning.
Sources said airport authorities did not grant landing clearance for the aircraft. As a result, the flight reportedly did not depart from Tehran.
According to the sources, the service was a special flight rather than a scheduled commercial operation, making it subject to additional government approvals before it could operate.
Approval From Foreign Ministry Required
Sources said the aircraft would only be allowed to land after receiving formal permission from Pakistan’s foreign minister or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They added that Pakistani authorities had received a communication from the Iranian government regarding the proposed flight.
Officials indicated that approval from the Foreign Ministry is required before any special flight of this nature can be granted permission to land in Pakistan.
No official statement has yet been issued by the Pakistani government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or aviation authorities explaining the reason for the delay or confirming when a final decision on the flight will be made.
