Federal aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan has said international flights are going to be operated from the Skardu airport to spice up tourism and trade activities in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said Skardu airport would have all-weather and nighttime flight operations.
Talking to Dawn on Friday, he said measures were being taken to take advantage of tourism potential in GB under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Mr Sarwar said located at an altitude of over 7,000 feet, the Skardu airport was listed among the world’s highest altitude airports.
He said first time flights had started from Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot and Faisalabad to Skardu.
The aviation minister claimed that Skardu airport had become one among the busiest airports in Pakistan.
Mr Sarwar said a notification would be issued declaring Skardu airport because the international airport from next month.
He said the airport’s runway was being expanded for widebody aircraft landing.
“International chartered flights are going to be allowed to Skardu airport,” he added.
Besides, he said nights from Lahore to Gilgit had also been started, and therefore the number of daily flights from Islamabad had increased.
Ghulam Sarwar said an idea was afoot to expand the Gilgit airport, adding options were being explored to construct a replacement airport in Gilgit.
He said a study was also being conducted to construct a bridge for landing of heavy aircraft at the Gilgit airport.
