CHITRAL: The local people have demanded daily PIA flights on the Islamabad-Peshawar-Chitral route instead of twice a week to ensure the route’s viability.

Fakhre Alam, a businessman and frequent traveler of the airline, said he had abandoned the journey by air due to very limited number of flights on the route.

He said frequent cancellation of even weekly flights was resulting in dwindling number of passengers.

Mr Alam said the management of the national carrier was totally oblivious about the Chitral sector despite is great potential in promoting tourism due to its topography.

He said the exorbitant PIA fare was another factor deterring the people from travelling by the airline.

Comparing the fares of Chitral route with that of Gilgit-Baltistan, he said although the latter took 90 minutes time from Islamabad its single fare was Rs7,500 as against the Rs7,400 for a 30-minute flight to Chitral.

Inappropriate timings of flights on the route is another potent reason behind cancellation of flights.

A retired pilot of the airline said the morning time was more suitable for operating flights than the afternoon because of cloud formation during the day.

The people associated with the tourism sector said visitors had been diverted to Gilgit-Baltistan where two daily flights were operated.

SNOW FESTIVAL: A three-day snow sports festival started in Madak Lusht village of Sheshi Koh valley on Friday. A number of teams are participating in different games, including skiing and skating.

Lower Chitral deputy commissioner Hasan Abid was the chief guest on the occasion.

The festival is being jointly arranged by the district administration, the KP Culture and Tourism Authority and Hindukush Snow Sports Club.

The valley is covered with four feet of snow luring a large number of people from different parts of Chitral to throng here.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2021