ISLAMABAD (PR): An important meeting was held in Civil Aviation Division Islamabad on Friday to resolve issues in connection with flights to Gilgit-Baltistan.
The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary Aviation Division, Minister of Information, Planning and Development Fethullah Khan, Finance Minister G-B Javed Manwa, Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani, senior officials of Civil Aviation Authority, representatives of PIA and Air Blue.
It was decided in the meeting that the frequency of flights to Gilgit and Skardu will be increased while special Hajj flights will be arranged to facilitate the pilgrims of Gilgit-Baltistan to travel directly from Gilgit-Baltistan. The pilgrims will be informed about the departure point in time. The Civil Aviation Authority will facilitate the pilgrims directly from Skardu Airport as per mutual communication with PIA.
It was decided in the meeting that as per last year’s practice, special flights will also be started from Lahore and Karachi to Gilgit and Skardu from May 2023. The senior officials of PIA also expressed their willingness connect Gilgit-Baltistan with flights operated from Faisalabad and Multan.
The officials of G-B government expressed their concerns related to the fares of flights operated by PIA to and from Gilgit-Baltistan. It was decided in the meeting that issue of fares will be reviewed by taking route timings of the these flight into consideration.
Federal Secretary Aviation assured to try his level best to give a special package to the deserving and poor patients of Gilgit-Baltistan during any emergency to avail travel facility including fare reimbursement. PIA can receive fare and other travel expenses from Social Welfare Department, Gilgit-Baltistan, added the federal secretary civil aviation.
The representative of Air Blue said it will operate 3 flights to Skardu on weekly basis from July 2023.
While talking during the meeting, the officials of civil aviation authority said the renovation of old Skardu airport has completed and now it is taking steps on an emergency basis to make it operational and provide maximum facilities to domestic and international tourists.
