GILGIT: Federal aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan has said international flights will be operated from the Skardu airport to boost tourism and trade activities in Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said Skardu airport would have all-weather and nighttime flight operations.

Talking to Dawn on Friday, he said measures were being taken to exploit tourism potential in GB under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Mr Sarwar said located at an altitude of over 7,000 feet, the Skardu airport was listed among the world's highest altitude airports.

He said first time flights had started from Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot and Faisalabad to Skardu.

The aviation minister claimed that Skardu airport had become one of the busiest airports in Pakistan.

Mr Sarwar said a notification would be issued declaring Skardu airport as the international airport from next month.

He said the airport's runway was being expanded for wide-body aircraft landing.

"International chartered flights will be allowed to Skardu airport," he added.

Besides, he said nights from Lahore to Gilgit had also been started, and the number of daily flights from Islamabad had increased.

Ghulam Sarwar said a plan was afoot to expand the Gilgit airport, adding options were being explored to construct a new airport in Gilgit.

He said a study was also being conducted to construct a bridge for landing of heavy aircraft at the Gilgit airport.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2021