The federal government wants to seek Chinese help for making two of Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) airports ‘all weather’ to guarantee uninterrupted flights in the mountainous region, sources said on Saturday.
“The airports in Gilgit and Skardu will be upgraded, enabling aircraft to land and take off in all weathers,” sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune on Saturday.
The tourism industry in G-B has suffered immensely over the years due to frequent flights cancellation to the region, famous among foreign and national tourists for its breathtaking beauty and majestic mountains. Tourism is also a major source of income for the population in G-B and enhanced airports would play an instrumental role in expanding the industry.
The journey from Islamabad to Gilgit via the Karakoram Highway (KKH) became almost inaccessible after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, which left the KKH damaged. The previous 14-hour journey from Islamabad to Gilgit has now stretched to 24 hours, as bumpy roads continue irking tourists.
Currently the only air transport available to G-B are ATR aircraft of the Pakistan International Airline (PIA), with only two scheduled flights per day, however turbulent weather cause cancellations on a regular basis.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2011.
COMMENTS (14)
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@H.A. Khan: there are other flight operators in the country and they are bound as per their licensing agreement and this would be the most profitable route if flights operate uninterrupted.
@Was A Pakistani: weather of the region is such that you won't need to wear shorts...
why other private carriers are not running on these routes. They must also run flights on these routes, as per their licensing agreements.
How apt: an all weather friend for an all weather airport!
Why this sudden love for the people of Gilgit and Baltistan. You have never considered them human enough before. Are you sure it is tourists you are looking for, or does it have something to do with providing an airbase for the Chinese, one that could be used against India for instance.
@Was A Pakistani: You seems confused between tourism/ culture and geography with its ethnic back ground......The first thing tourist always prefer to adopt the local culture and enjoy the cultural richness of the societies...if you ever been to these regions, tourists enjoy and they are still come in 1000s of number from all around the world to gilgit-baltistan....we welcome an female tourist who wish to climb K2 in shorts..You can accompany, there is no problem at all.....so don't mix this part of pakistan with tribal out skirts.....
So No Tax until basic civic facilities and freedoms are provided to the population there.
Question is who will visit the place? I dont doubt its potential I doubt the possibility of serious tourism developing in a country with so many hang ups.... Will anyone tolerate a female tourist walking around in shorts?
This is an appreciable decision to make the airports of both Gilgit and Skardu (Baltistan) all-weather. Still there is a question that how PIA will ensure conducting of regular flights according to demand of passengers. If PIA en routes 3 to 4 flights daily from Islamabad to Gilgit and vice-versa then there is less need to take further steps. We, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, have paid high price for cancellation of official visits of state heads in the past due to bad weather. Foreign and domestic tourists reluctant to visit Gilgit-Baltistan due to uncertainty in flight schedule. The decision to make airports all-weather, dying tourism sector of Gilgit-Baltistan will thrive once again.
plz do something ....patients and elders really suffer.....
Boeing 737s fly to Skardu btw.
This will be very positive for overall tourism of GB province and Pakistan. BUT we will need planes...