RAWALPINDI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday started operating flights from Quetta to Turbat to facilitate the residents of southern Balochistan.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said the airline had launched two-way flights between Quetta and Turbat on Thursday and would operate flights two times a week on the route.

He said the first PIA flight PK-525 departed from Quetta to Turbat at 12 noon, while the second flight would be operated on Dec 19 (Saturday).

The spokesman said that it was a long-standing demand of the people of Turbat, Gwadar, Jiwani and surrounding areas and the national flag carrier had fulfilled it.

He said that flights to Gwadar from other cities of the country would also be started soon. Air Marshal Arshad Malik has already promised that PIA would play a role in development of Gwadar.

The PIA had announced up to 30 per cent discount on domestic flights operating between Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Peshawar, from Dec 3.

The passengers will be able to travel between these cities on one-way fare of Rs8,500 and a round fare of Rs17,000.

The spokesman said that the purpose of these fares was to facilitate travel of people to their loved-ones during holidays at a much more affordable price.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2020