Pakistan says flight clearance procedures follow standard protocols
Pakistan has said the reported postponement of a uranium shipment for the second unit of Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant should be viewed in a technical and procedural context, following reports that the shipment was delayed after Pakistan allegedly denied permission to use its airspace.
A Pakistan High Commission official in Dhaka told The Shuttle Times on Tuesday that Pakistan processes requests for diplomatic flight and overflight clearances within a standardised and predictable timeframe, in accordance with its regulatory guidelines and civil aviation protocols.
The statement came amid reports concerning flight routing and airspace permissions involving Pakistan.
According to the Pakistani side, the issue relates to technical and procedural arrangements that may require coordination among relevant aviation and other authorities.
Such coordination, it said, can occasionally lead to adjustments in flight schedules.
“Pakistan maintains an unwavering commitment to international diplomatic norms and processes all requests for diplomatic flight and overflight clearances within a standardised, predictable timeframe,” it said, stressing that such requests are handled in accordance with established regulatory guidelines and civil aviation protocols.
The Pakistani side also said it attaches “high importance” to its relations with Bangladesh.
It urged that the matter be viewed in its “proper technical context” and cautioned against attaching undue significance to reports or narratives that, it said, could misrepresent the issue and undermine bilateral relations.
The statement did not provide further details about the specific flight or clearance request referred to in the reports.
