The Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority called on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Kam Air to reduce the price of their tickets or risk the suspension of their flights. 

Earlier in the week, Kam Air said it was stopping its flights between Kabul and Islamabad. On Thursday Pakistan's PIA announced it was also stopping flights between the two cities, according to Reuters.

The decision was announced in a statement issued by the ACAA on Thursday, after the public  complained about the expense of prices for flights to Pakistan. The airline companies have been asking for up to $2,500 for tickets to Pakistan.

An official at the ACAA, Ghulam Jailani Wafa, said that after meetings with the Pakistani air aviation officials, the organization made the decision.  

“We were obliged to take such a decision because we didn’t receive any positive response from them and if they do not reduce the price of the tickets, we will not allow their flights,” he said.  

Hours after the announcement of the ACAA, the Pakistani media reported that PIA had suspended flights to Afghanistan. According to the reports, the travel agencies of the company were closed in Kabul.  

“The people are not going overseas for fun, they are either sick or need to go to visit their families and they can’t pay 2,500 dollars for a ticket,” said Ibrahim, a Kabul resident.

“We want the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority to press the companies to reduce the price of the tickets, the people can’t pay for it,” said Imran, a Kabul resident.

Earlier, officials of the Kam Air airline told TOLOnews that it had suspended flights to Pakistan.