SKARDU, June 22: Passengers, including local and foreign tourists, traders and common people, are facing problems as PIA is unable to follow its flight schedule for Northern Areas, especially Skardu.
Tourism is the mainstay of local economy and the main source of employment for area people as thousands of tourists from all over the world visit Northern Areas every year.
Flights to Gilgit and Skardu are subject to weather conditions. Passengers face problems as PIA operates only one Boeing-707 daily but the service is not regular. Some times due to bad weather flights remain suspended for several days which force tourists to cancel their visits, which means huge losses to people related to the tourism industry.
Sources said the government should develop modern landing facilities at Skardu airport so that flights could land here even during unfavourable weather conditions.
Tour operators and common people criticized the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation for not taking any steps for the promotion of tourism in these areas.
Because of irregular flights tourism in the area is greatly suffering. Absence of modern landing system and lack of regular flights to Skardu are the main hurdles in the promotion of tourism in Northern Areas.
WORKSHOP: Due to non-imposition of family laws in Gilgit-Baltistan, area women are facing hardships in getting justice, whereas the local government ordinance 2000 has also not been imposed here and the local government organizations were working under the 1979 ordinance.
These views were expressed by women councillors and representatives of women welfare organizations while addressing a four-day workshop organized by the Baltistan Health and Education Foundation, Aurat Foundation, Women Mashal-i-Rah and Kisar Welfare Organization here on Wednesday.
The workshop was aimed at creating awareness about women’s legal rights and building advocacy and capacity of women councillors.
Advocate Shakila of Aurat Foundation, Advocate Wazir Farman Ali, Skardu district council member Wazir Fida Ali and others informed the participants about their duties and responsibilities and told them how to get their rights through councils.
Renowned religious scholar Agha Syed Ali Almusavi also addressed the workshop.
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