BAKU, September 3: More than 90,000 Pakistani tourists visited Azerbaijan last year as improved air connectivity and transport links strengthened people-to-people ties between the two countries, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Qasim Mohiuddin said.
Speaking to Azerbaijan’s state news agency AZERTAC, the ambassador said transport cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan had witnessed significant growth over the past two years, particularly in commercial aviation and logistics.
He said direct flights operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airblue and Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) between Islamabad, Lahore and Baku had made travel between the two countries more convenient.
“Practically, direct flights are available almost every day between our two countries, making air connectivity much easier than before,” the ambassador said.
He added that improved connectivity had contributed to a noticeable rise in tourism, with the number of Pakistani visitors to Azerbaijan crossing 90,000 during the previous year.
Growing transport and trade links
The Pakistani envoy said cooperation was also expanding in the area of land transportation and logistics.
He highlighted the role of the Transit Trade Agreement (TTA) between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, saying the arrangement provides a faster and more cost-effective route for transportation of goods and transit trade.
According to the ambassador, land routes connecting Pakistan and Azerbaijan pass through Iran or Afghanistan, followed by Turkmenistan and onward through the Caspian Sea route.
He expressed hope that improvement in regional conditions, particularly the stabilisation of the situation in Iran, would further enhance trade and cargo movement between the two countries.
Pakistan-Azerbaijan ties continue to expand
The ambassador said stronger transport links were helping deepen economic, tourism and trade relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
The increase in direct flights and logistics cooperation reflects growing bilateral engagement between the two countries, with both sides exploring opportunities to expand commercial and people-to-people exchanges.