PIA flight PK 250 for the sector Kabul-Islamabad was kept on hold and delayed due to runway maintenance at Kabul Airport. PIA spokesman said that due to obstruction at the start of the runway, full length of take-off was not available. The authorities insisted on weight shedding which implied offloading of 15 passengers. The pilot refused as all passengers were on board and passengers could not be left behind in foreign land.

After discussions, ATC allowed take-off from the other edge of the runway. The flight took off at 2:35pm PST and landed at Karachi at 3:20pm, he added.