LAHORE: In a major step toward mending regional ties and enhancing inter-provincial connectivity, a new private airline’s maiden flight from Peshawar landed in the Punjab capital, carrying Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on board the historic inaugural journey.

Upon his arrival at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Governor Kundi was received by Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who extended a special welcome on behalf of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to the governor and the passengers of the flight.

Ms Aurangzeb congratulated Governor Kundi for laying a foundation of goodwill between Punjab and KP.

Expressing his gratitude to CM Maryam for facilitating the air route, Governor Kundi highlighted the broader significance of the milestone.

“This is not merely a flight; it is a bridge uniting two provinces,” he stated, emphasising that the initiative aims to move past historical friction and foster economic growth, trade, and cultural exchange.

Highlighting KP’s rich history as home to ancient civilisations, Kundi said that Punjab’s positive governance practices would be replicated in KP, while extending a formal invitation to Marriyum Aurangzeb and the Punjab leadership to visit Peshawar soon.

Earlier, Faisal Kundi inaugurated South Airways’ new air service between Peshawar and Lahore.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the governor said the airline had earlier launched flights between Peshawar and Quetta, while the new Peshawar-Lahore service was another welcome step towards expanding air connectivity.

He announced that South Airways would soon launch flights to Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan as part of efforts to expand air links and facilitate people across the region.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2026