fbpx
15.5 C
Islamabad
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Skardu Airport to handle international flights soon

SKARDU: With a motive to boost nature bases tourism in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, the incumbent authorities have decided to start the international flight operations at Skardu airport.

Reports quoting sources cited that on the direction of aviation regulator, the expansion of the airport was being done including the laying out preparations for all-weather flight operations. Skardu, along with Gilgit, are the major tourism, trekking, and expedition hubs in the northern region.

The airport, which is located at an altitude of over 7,000 feet, will also get a modern CAT-I system to facilitate flights in adverse weather conditions.

The airport infrastructure, including points of arrival and departure, lounge, and others were being upgraded to facilitate the international tourists with all possible facilities.

Federal Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan while speaking with a leading daily said the new measures are part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s initiative to boost tourism and economic growth in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

The PTI leader also mentioned that a notification would be issued declaring Skardu airport as the international airport in the coming weeks. Besides expanding the Gilgit airport, construction of a new airport in Gilgit is also on the cards, he said.

Gilgit-Baltistan tourism minister Raja Nasir Ali Khan also confirmed that Skardu airport was being upgraded to offer improved services to handle international flights. As for now, Skardu airport has two asphalt runways, one 8,740 ft (2,664 m) long and the other 11,944 ft (3,641 m) long, he said.

Furthermore, Private Airlines will also get permission to start direct flights for Skardu soon amid growing demand from domestic tourists.

It is worth mentioning here, that the Gilgit Baltistan region is hosting a lot of tourists and according to a report of the Associated Press of Pakistan, at least 0.7 million local and foreign tourists thronged during the ongoing summer season in the picturesque valley.

The demand for domestic air travel has witnessed a surge as masses of local and foreign people rushed to see green valleys and snow-clad mountains.

Reports said the authorities, to manage the flow, are now issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to private airlines. Meanwhile, the national flag carrier PIA is running flight operations from Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Sialkot.

In earlier months, a new private airline North Air has also been issued a license to operate flights between Skardu, Chitral, Gilgit, and Gwadar.

Latest news
- Advertisement -spot_img
Related news