The Civil Aviation Authority has given permission to the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to continue flights to Skardu and Gilgit from Islamabad after directives from the prime minister, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan confirmed.

He added that the prime minister has exempted the routes from the nationwide domestic flight suspension (from March 26 to April 2) to maintain contact with the northern areas as they were heavily dependent on continued aerial contact for their basic necessities and in emergency situations.