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:
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a major export hub (sports goods, surgical instruments),
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a celebrated model in Imran Khan’s “Naya Pakistan” narrative,
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and a politically aligned business constituency.
Contrast matters:
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Other startups (Q-Airlines, K2 Airways) did not receive repeat cabinet extensions, policy-timed relief, or PM inaugurations.
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The pattern suggests selective intensity, not universal facilitation.
Addressing allegations responsibly (EEAT standard)
Social media commentary has alleged fee waivers, accelerated international operations, and political favoritism. These claims circulate widely but vary in verification. An EEAT-compliant approach requires:
