On Wednesday, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced to increase its international and domestic flight operations.
In doing so, the national flag carrier has increased its international flight operations to Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. During the first phase, there will be five flights between Pakistan and Kabul, whereas, the number will increase to seven flights amid the second phase, informed a PIA spokesperson.
Similarly, the spokesperson further revealed that PIA will begin operating two direct flights from Lahore to Baku from March 14 onwards in one week.
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The airline will also begin flight operations from Lahore to Tashkent on March 28, and it has also been allowed by the Uzbekistani authorities to conduct flight operations to Bukhara and Samarkand.
Meanwhile, PIA has also resumed its domestic flight operations which were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline will resume its flight operations from Karachi to Rahim Yar Khan two times a week. It will also resume conducting flights to Chitral. Flights from Islamabad to Lahore will be conducted three times a week as well.
Prior to this development, during a meeting on Sunday with the Federal Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (FPCCI) delegation, headed by Qurban Ali, FPCCI’s chairman, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik, announced to increase the national airline’s flight operations to Gilgit-Baltistan and the surrounding region to enhance business, tourism, and connectivity.
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“Currently the PIA has ongoing operations of 2 flights, which would be increased to 3 flights by March 28 to enhance the connectivity between Gilgit-Baltistan,” Arshad Malik expressed during the meeting.
“We want to enhance the cooperation with the business community and the community should come forward and play their due role in helping the PIA for making it more efficient and strong,” Malik stated, as per a press release issued by the FPCCI, adding that this increased connectivity would pave the way for employment, business culture, economy, tourism, trade, and investment, hence, a more flourishing and strengthened Pakistan.
Also discussed in the FPCCI meeting was the construction of a new runway at the Gilgit Airport as well as improved resources, services, and offices. PIA CEO also decided to decrease the passenger fare to further facilitate the business community and passengers of Gilgit-Baltistan.