LARKANA, Jan 25: The Larkana circuit bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday asked the secretary defence, chairman and managing-director of the Pakistan International Airlines to personally appear in the court on February 19, in connection with a petition filed for starting two flights daily from Larkana to Karachi and vice versa.

The petition was jointly filed by MPA Ayaz Soomro and Abdul Hamid Bhurgri, president and general secretary of the District Bar Association.

Justice Zawar Hussain Jafferi observed that why the PIA was not operating two flights on the route to facilitate tourists and the area people.

The petitioners said that thousands of tourists and visitors to Moenjodaro, the oldest civilization in the world, faced problems in the absence of air travel facilities.

They said that previously two flights had been operating between Larkana and Karachi daily, but at present only one or two flights operated in a week irregularity.

The petitioners said the road journey between Larkana and Karachi was unsafe and uncomfortable.

They blamed that the authorities concerned had ignored Larkana and its adjoining areas.

They requested the court to direct the respondents for making proper arrangements of air travel facilities for the people of Larkana by starting two flights daily between Karachi and Larkana and vice versa.

They also prayed for reducing the airfare to encourage foreign tourists to visit Moenjodaro.