GILGIT: Regular international flights between Skardu and Dubai will commence on Monday, with two weekly flights operating on Monday and Friday.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will operate these flights, with the first departure from Skardu to Dubai on April 29 and the first arrival on May 4.

The move to start regular weekly flights has come after the milestone of last year when a total of 11 flights were operated between Skardu and Dubai on different occasions.

The Skardu airport, declared ‘international’ by former prime minister Imran Khan in December 2021, is the only airport in northern Pakistan capable of accommodating larger airplanes.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Faisal Niaz Tirmizi confirmed to Dawn that PIA has been requested to initiate regular flights between Skardu and Dubai.

The improved accessibility is expected to attract more visitors to Skardu and its surrounding areas, known for their stunning landscapes and natural beauty.

GB Minister for Plan­n­ing and Development Raja Nasir Ali Khan met PIA’s chief commercial officer Nausherwan Adil to discuss strategies for enhancing air connectivity and promoting tourism.

They agreed to increase flight frequencies from Dubai to Skardu and launch direct special flig­hts from Skardu to Najaf and Damascus for pilgrims, the minister told Dawn.

In the meeting, he said, they also discussed initiating direct Hajj and Umrah flights from Skardu airport, which would benefit local residents and promote international tourism, positively impacting the local economy.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Taliban divisions
Updated 24 Feb, 2025

Taliban divisions

The only workable solution lies in Mullah Akhundzada loosening his iron grip on the country.
Oblivious to drought
24 Feb, 2025

Oblivious to drought

PAKISTAN faces two types of drought: one caused by dry weather or lower-than-normal rainfall, and the other ...
Digital children
24 Feb, 2025

Digital children

AS most parents with young children will agree, the easiest way to pacify a bawling child is to hand them a...
The long wait
Updated 23 Feb, 2025

The long wait

Pakistan’s fundamental problem is that two of its most important leaders still cannot get over themselves.
Defending freedom
23 Feb, 2025

Defending freedom

THERE was no other choice. Despite assurances of consultations with key stakeholders, the government passed the Peca...
Anti-Muslim crimes
23 Feb, 2025

Anti-Muslim crimes

THE surge in Islamophobic assaults in the UK, as reported by the anti-hate crime charity Tell MAMA, is a stark...