Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is much more than a people mover. It is a business artery bringing much-needed foreign capital and trade to the country's economy, according to Ali Tahir Qasim, the carrier's country manager for Hong Kong and Macau.
'As the national carrier, we play an important role in linking Pakistan with economies around the globe,' he says. 'Because we connect the world and Pakistan, we are considered the most vital link.'
Mr Ali divides the carrier's business into three major groups: business travellers, overseas workers and cargo.
He says PIA ferries business people back and forth between Pakistan and its major trading partners, enabling the business community to foster and build economic ties.
The airline also brings the country's vast overseas workforce and their cash back from major centres that employ foreign workers. Hong Kong is home to a 20,000-strong Pakistani community.
'We have a large ethnic community in the United States, the Middle East and Hong Kong, and they bring a lot of money back to Pakistan,' Mr Ali says.
The carrier has a large modern fleet, with Boeing and Airbus taking up the lion's share of the 46 aircraft. It services 42 cities around the world, and has a twice-weekly flight into Hong Kong. The carrier also services the domestic market.
