GILGIT: The Pakistan International Airline’s first-ever direct flight from Lahore landed at the Skardu Airport here on Wednesday.

The PK-8453 flight took off from the Allama Iqbal International Airport on Wednesday morning with 153 passengers onboard and landed at the Skardu Airport after one hour and 15 minutes.

The PIA officials received and presented bouquets of flowers to the passengers at the airport.

Later, a cake cutting ceremony was also held to celebrate the occasion.

Gilgit-Baltistan tourism minister Raja Nasir Ali Khan said the first PIA flight coming directly from Lahore also received a water cannon welcome upon landing at the Skardu Airport.

He said there would be two weekly flights on the Lahore-Skardu route, which would go a long way in boosting tourism in the region.

He thanked federal aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Pakistan International Airlines for the landmark achievement.

“I promise to take the tourism sector of Gilgit-Baltistan to new heights during my tenure as tourism minister,” he promised.

The tourism minister said flights between Lahore and Skardu would open a new travel corridor for domestic and international tourists.

He said he was looking forward to the flight’s sustainable operation as this would not only promote tourism but also add up to the revenue of the national flag carrier.

PIA CEO Arshad Malik said that the new flight operations would promote tourism in the country.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2021