CHITRAL, March 1: Social and political circles have welcomed a decision taken by the Pakistan International Airlines board of directors in their meeting to replace the Fokker aircraft for Chitral service with turbo-prop planes.

The Lowari Pass, which is the only land route connecting this northern district headquarters city with the rest of the country, remains closed for all sorts of traffic during winter.

The PIA started operating Fokker aircraft flights to Chitral in 1962. The replacement of F-27 Fokker aircraft with turbo-prop planes would solve problems the people faced whenever the land route was closed and the Pakistan International Airlines flights were cancelled mainly due to bad weather.