Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended all international passenger flights for a week in response to reports of a new strain of the virus. The interior ministry has stated that the flight ban could be go on until “until medical information about the nature of this virus becomes clear.”
The announcement of the ban comes shortly after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed the new faster-spreading strain of the COVID-19 virus. The UK government has said that the new strain has resulted in a rapid surge in coronavirus cases in the country.
Consequently, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cancelled all flights scheduled to Saudi Arabia. Several flights from various cities including Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad to Saudi Arabia were also halted.
PIA spokesman Abdullah Khan said, “”Until flight permissions are restored, all flights will remain cancelled.”
