— PIA hikes fare by 100pc for Islamabad-Gilgit/Skardu flights hurting tourism and local travelers
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has increased the fare of light to GB up to 100 per cent as compared to other domestic routes, Profit learnt on Friday.
For reference, the minimum fare for Islamabad to Karachi, a two hour flight, is around Rs 16,000 whereas the fare for Islamabad-Skardu flight is over Rs25,000. The maximum fare for this route which takes 35 minutes to cover goes up to Rs 40,000.
In another development, the frequency of flights to Gilgit and Skardu will be increased and special flights would be arranged to facilitate hajj pilgrims traveling directly from GB. These flights will be started from Lahore to Gilgit, as well as Lahore and Karachi to Skardu, starting from May 2023.
The decisions were taken in a bid to promote tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan during a meeting held in the Aviation Division in Islamabad on Friday. The meeting was held to address issues related to flights to the region. It was attended by high-level officials from the GB government, the Aviation Division, Civil Aviation Authority, PIA, and Airblue.
The decision to increase flight frequency to GB comes as part of the government’s efforts to promote tourism in the region, which attracts a large number of tourists each year. By increasing flights, the government hopes to make travel to the region more convenient and affordable for visitors.
Additionally, the meeting also discussed the issue of high airfares to GB. The matter was raised by the attendees and it was decided that the issue would be reviewed considering the route timings of the flights from/to GB. The government is committed to making travel to GB accessible to everyone, and the issue of high airfares will be addressed to ensure that tourists can travel to the region without breaking the bank.
As per details the meeting also addressed the issue of emergency medical evacuations from GB. It was decided that a special package would be given to deserving poor patients to ensure their immediate lifting in case of emergencies, and their airfare would be recouped either from Bait ul Mall or the Social Welfare Department of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The representatives of PIA and Airblue also expressed their commitment to promoting tourism in the region. The PIA representative was positively inclined to add Faisalabad and Multan flights as well to Gilgit-Baltistan, while the Airblue representative stated that three flights to Skardu would be ensured from July 2023 on a weekly basis. However, a request was made to ensure the facility as soon as possible to get maximum tourist flow to GB.
The Civil Aviation Authority also mentioned that once the old airport of Skardu was renovated, it would be outsourced for operationalization and to attract maximum local and international tourist attractions.
According to Chief Secretary GB MOhyuddin Ahmed Wani, the overall meeting was a positive step towards promoting tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan, and the attendees expressed their commitment to working together to make travel to the region more accessible and affordable for visitors.
With the increased flight frequency and commitment to addressing issues such as high airfares and emergency medical evacuations, the government is hopeful that tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan will continue to grow and thrive in the years to come.
