QUETTA, April 18: Pakistan International Airlines will launch Quetta-Gwadar flights from April 25, an airline official said here on Sunday. This was announced by PIA's regional general-manager Sulman Javed at a press conference here on Sunday.

He said PIA would initially operate two weekly Fokker flights via Turbat on Friday and Sunday, connecting Gwadar with Quetta and Karachi. He said that the airline would replace the turboprop flights with modern aircraft within the next six months.

The airline is already operating three international flights from Quetta, to Sharjah, Dubai and Muscat, he said. Pasni airport, he said, was still being repaired and once it becomes functional the airline would begin operating wide-bodied aircraft on Makran coast and Gulf routes.

He said that the PIA would also start the Speedex courier service from Quetta soon, adding that the airline had inducted its surplus staff in its courier service.