Pakistan opens Swat to air travel

Islamabad: To showcase Pakistan’s potential in tourism and to attract tourists to the scenic Swat Valley in northern Pakistan, the government has decided to resume flight operations in the region.

A flight of the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) landed at the Saidu Sharif Airport on Friday after a gap of 17 years.

The airliner was carrying Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed and a number of tourists and residents of Malakand and other parts of the region.

In a letter to the Civil Aviation Authority, the airline had requested to ensure all security, infrastructure, and other important arrangements for the smooth resumption of flights.

Two flights a week

According to the PIA spokesperson, as per the plan, the national carrier will send two flights to the airport every week, on Friday and Monday, from Islamabad.

He added that passengers wanting to travel from Karachi and Lahore will also be connected with flights from Islamabad.

International tourists to benefit

In the coming days, with things getting better and coronavirus cases dropping, we will also connect it with international flights for convenience of the expat Pakistanis and tourists, the spokesperson said.

Before the departure of the flight from Islamabad, the aviation minister said the flights to Swat were closed due to financial constraints and terrorism. He added that the people of Swat and Malakand bravely fought back terrorism alongside security forces.

He said the flights would not just add to the national exchequer but also boost tourism in Pakistan. Swat will also witness development as a result, he said.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government said the resumption of flights to Swat was a big step and of great value as it would realise Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of turning Pakistan into a tourist-friendly country.