GILGIT/RAWAL­PIN­­DI: The first international flight from Dubai will land at Skardu airport on Aug­ust 14, GB Chief Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani told Dawn on Wednesday.

The airport is the only one in northern Pakistan that can accommodate larger airplanes, as the runways at both Gilgit and Chitral airports are too short for long-haul flights to land there.

The Skardu airport had been declared ‘international’ by former prime minister Imran Khan in December 2021, but international flights could not be operated to and from the airport due to the unavailability of an adequate re-fuelling facility.

Now, however, arrangements have been made to cater to the fuel needs of international flights, and the facility is expected to be inaugurated on Aug 11.

Last month, at least 12 Airbus A320 flights successfully connected Skardu with major cities across Pakistan, signalling a surge in tourism.

Polio cards not needed

Separately, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said on Wednesday that passengers do not require polio vaccination cards, and it warned against focusing on any internet offers to obtain such cards.

A CAA spokesperson clarified that there is no requirement for a polio vaccination card for passengers, and the public is requested not to fall for any unverified online offers to obtain one. He said that travellers should ignore individuals who claim to represent airlines.

Passengers are reques­ted to ask the airline of the country they intend to tra­vel to about the health policy of that country, especially the polio vaccination policy.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2023