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Comparable delays historically led to suspensions (e.g., Shaheen Air, Bhoja Air).
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Cabinet-level extensions for a single startup are not routine administrative acts.
This is regulatory grace with political weight.
Exhibit C: Direct prime-ministerial intervention and endorsement
Documented actions include:
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Personal meetings between Sialkot businessmen and the Prime Minister to resolve licensing issues.
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Inauguration of AirSial by Imran Khan on December 9, 2020 at Sialkot Airport.
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Public framing of AirSial as a symbol of “competition” and “export-led growth.”
Prime ministers do not typically inaugurate private airlines. When they do, it signals political sponsorship, not mere neutrality.
Exhibit D: Sialkot’s strategic proximity to power
AirSial is backed by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the same community that built Pakistan’s first private international airport. Sialkot is also:
