Pakistan pushes new air links for Chitral and Skardu to spur tourism

South Air CEO Kanwar Muhammad Tariq met Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in early June, announcing plans to launch regular flights from Islamabad to Chitral once regulatory approvals are secured. Two months later, no further update has been provided, leaving residents awaiting clarification on the project's status.

In Gilgit‑Baltistan, Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Azar proposed a direct flight between Skardu and Kashgar, China, during talks with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong in Islamabad. The proposal, which also includes a visa‑on‑arrival scheme for Chinese tourists, aims to boost tourism, trade, and people‑to‑people contacts, but requires federal government approval.