Management of the Pakistan international Airlines Company (PIA) has assured that from 7th June 2024 and onward two daily flights would be operated between the rout of Islamabad andGilgit. According to details, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the national flag carrier during his meeting with the Ex-Chief Minister/PML-N regional chapter President HafeezurRehman has said that flight operational would be ensured, where-as Ex Chief Minister of the region has expressed his concerns/reservations due to non-operation of PIA flights for Gilgit during the last two weeks. Ex-Chief Minister of the region during the meeting has apprised the PIA management that if there was any technical issue or shortage of aircrafts by the company, then it was required to arrange the alternate system by asking the private airlines to operate the flights in order to facilitate the visiting tourists and people of the area. HafeezurRehman during the meeting with the CEO and other officers of the company has pointed out that due to non-operation of PIA flights to Gilgit, elderly people, students, women and patients were facing hardships, where-as people associated with the hotel and tourism sector were facing losses in their respective business.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the only company which was operating the flight service to Gilgit, where-as private airlines were not providing their service to Gilgit and only 14 flights were operated between Islamabad to Gilgit during the month of May 2024 due to which people intended to travel on this route were facing hardships. It is pertinent to mention here that people of Gilgit division and its surrounding areas do not have any other option except to travel by road via Karakorum Highway (KKH) from Gilgit to other parts of the country by undertaking 14 to 15 hours journey, as the road through Babusar top was not yet opened for traffic despite of the efforts of the regional government. It was pointed out in the social media reports that road up to Naran was opened on 9/10th May 2024, but after that pace of work was made slow allegedly due to collusion of road maintenance company and hotels owners of Naran-Khagan area in order to benefit them, so that more tourists may stay with them instead of visiting Gilgit-Baltistan. Now the Ex-Chief Minister/PML-N regional chapter President HafeezurRehman has held a meeting with the CEO of PIA and other directors of the company and appraised about the hardships being faced by the people of Gilgit divisiondue to non-operation of PIA flights from Islamabad to Gilgit. It would be necessary to point out here that Assembly of the region had also passed a unanimous resolution some time ago that private airlines should be directed to operate their aircrafts for Gilgit, but these companies have not yet commenced their service by violation of their license. After the meeting with the Ex-Chief Minister, PIA CEO has assured that from 7th Jun 2024 and onward, PIA would operate two daily flights for Gilgit, but it would be premature to comment upon the matter whether the PIA management would fulfill the promise or not because due to reportedly shortage of ATR aircrafts. It is in- evitable for the Civil Aviation Authority/PIA to expend the present runway of Gilgit airport till the construction of new airport in order to made it suitable for landing of heavy passenger aircrafts as the land for the purpose was already acquired many years ago for the expansion of existing runway of Gilgit airport, but expansion of runway was not yet carried out.
We would urge the concern quarters of the federal government/PIA/CAA to operate the daily flight service for Gilgit to boost up tourism sector and facilitate the people of the area besides carrying out the expansion of Gilgit airport runway on emergency basis to made it suitable for landing of all type of flights………END
