PIA flight from Saudi carrying Pak PM Sharif diverted to Lahore, inconveniencing other passengers on route to Islamabad

An Islamabad-bound PIA flight carrying Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and a high-level delegation from their visit to Saudi Arabia was diverted to Lahore airport, causing inconvenience to hundreds of other passengers, as reported by media sources.

The incident, which occurred shortly after Prime Minister Sharif declared a ban on red carpet treatment at events in his favor, raised questions about VIP culture in Pakistan. Despite the ban, the VIPs were reportedly treated like commercial passengers during the flight diversion.

The Pakistan International Airlines flight, with 393 passengers on board, was supposed to land in Islamabad but was redirected to Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. This unexpected change in plans led to frustration among the passengers, who had to wait for the VIPs to disembark before continuing their journey to Islamabad.

Videos circulating on social media captured the passengers expressing their anger over the situation. The flight eventually departed for Islamabad after offloading some passengers and landed later than scheduled.

Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia marked his first foreign trip since taking office. The incident has sparked a debate on the treatment of VIPs in Pakistan and the impact it has on regular travelers.