![](https://nextpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/sk.jpg)
- April 28, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
GILGIT: Starting Monday, there will be two weekly flights operating on Monday and Friday between Skardu and Dubai on a regular international route. The first flight will leave Skardu for Dubai on April 29 and arrive there on May 4, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The flights will be operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Following last year’s historic milestone, when 11 flights between Skardu and Dubai were operated on various dates, the decision was made to begin doing regular weekly flights.
There are no other airports in northern Pakistan that can handle larger aircraft than Skardu, which was designated as “international” by former Prime Minister Imran Khan in December 2021. Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, affirmed to Dawn that PIA has been asked to start offering frequent flights between Skardu and Dubai. It is anticipated that increased accessibility will draw more tourists to Skardu and the neighboring regions, which are renowned for their breathtaking scenery and unspoiled beauty.
The chief commercial officer of PIA, Nausherwan Adil, met with the GB Minister of Planning and Development, Raja Nasir Ali Khan, to talk about ways to improve aviation connectivity and boost tourism. The minister told Dawn that they had decided to start direct special flights for pilgrims from Skardu to Najaf and Damascus, as well as to enhance the frequency of flights from Dubai to Skardu. He added that at the discussion, they also talked about starting direct flights from Skardu airport for the Hajj and Umrah, which would help the locals and boost foreign visitors, both of which would strengthen the local economy.