NAWABSHAH, Aug 20: The Pakistan International Airlines resumed commercial flights from Nawabshah airport on Tuesday after a lapse of almost six years.

A passenger flight PK- 640 landed at Nawabshah airport at about 15:30pm from Hyderabad and left for Lahore at 1600 Hrs.

The flight had 29 adult passengers, one child and an infant including six from Nawabshah as well as four crew members.

Earlier, speaking at the inauguration ceremony of PIA commercial flights from Nawabshah, acting district nazim Abdul Haq Jamali said that demand of the people of Nawabshah has been met.

He further said that the PPP has always worked for the development and betterment of the country and the people.

He further said that the PPP started commercial flights from Nawabshah during its 2nd term, however, the service was suspended by the rival government which affected the development of the area.

Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, taluka president of PPP and coordinator to MNA Faryal Talpur said that Nawabshah was heart of Sindh covering a number of districts including Dadu, Naushahro Feroze, Sanghar, Matiari and PIA must also start commercial flights for Faisalabad, Karachi and Larkana.

He said that resumption of commercial flights would attract the investors willing to develop industry in the special industrial zone of Nawabshah which had been declared tax free by the federal government.

He said that the growth of industrial zone would also generate employment opportunities to the people of area.

Abdul Qayoom Qureshi, President Anjuman-e-Tajiran, said that the PPP government gave a gift to the public with the resignation of Musharraf and the flight service of PIA was the 2nd gift.

He said that Nawabshah was the commercial centre of Sindh province and demanded PIA to start flights for Faisalabad, Meon-Jo-Daro as well as international flights for Dubai.

Syed Shoaib Akhtar Shah, manager PIA Nawabshah, said that PIA has resumed the commercial flights from Nawabshah on the directives of the government.

He said that Nawabshah was an alternate to Karachi and Lahore and a number of domestic and international flights make landing at Nawabshah in case of any emergency.

He said that Nawabshah was initially given two flights in a week i.e. on Tuesday and Friday for Lahore and Islamabad.

He said that Karachi and other cities would also be connected with Nawabshah in future.

DCO Nawabshah Khurshid Naeem Malik and Manager CAA Nawabshah Illahi Bux Mahar also spoke on the occasion.

PIA had closed its commercial flights for Nawabshah back in 2002 due to revenue losses, however, a private airline Air Blue started commercial flights in 2004 which were also suspended within months due to unknown reasons.