The launch is being hailed as a vital step towards ending years of traveler isolation in the province.
Passengers queue at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport to get boarding passes for the inaugural flight to Turbat. Photo: NNI
QUETTA:
Years of isolation for travelers in Balochistan came to an end on Thursday when Governor Jafar Khan Mandokhail inaugurated South Airlines’ first domestic flight connecting Quetta and Turbat, described as a major breakthrough in regional aviation.
The launch, hailed as a vital step towards ending years of traveler isolation in the province, was widely welcomed by local representatives, who have long campaigned for better transport infrastructure.
Addressing an audience of provincial leaders, aviation executives and local dignitaries, Governor Mandokhail said the new road is just the beginning of a broader strategy to integrate Balochistan’s most remote districts with the rest of Pakistan.
“The introduction of local routes builds well on the recently established international flights between Quetta and Jeddah and Zahedan,” he said. “The government is already working closely with aviation authorities to introduce regular flights to and from Zhob and Panjgur soon,” he added.
Reflecting on the progress made over the past two years, the governor emphasized that the ultimate goal is to ensure that every resident of the province has a quick, safe and affordable way to travel to any city in the country.
Noting the high turnout of passengers on the first-ever intra-provincial flight, he urged South Airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority to quickly establish additional routes, specifically requesting routes connecting Zhob to Islamabad, Multan and Dera Ismail Khan, as well as Panjgur connections to Karachi and Quetta.
The launch of the flight was welcomed by local officials who have long advocated for better transportation infrastructure. Provincial Education Minister Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani noted that the new service directly addresses a serious transportation gap that has burdened local travelers for years.
“Reliable air transportation provides a safe and much-needed alternative to long and often dangerous road journeys across the province’s vast territory,” said MPA Rahmat Saleh Baloch. He expressed gratitude for the administrative support that paved the way for improved infrastructure in southern Balochistan.
The inauguration ceremony, which also marked the opening of the airline’s new regional office, concluded with strong optimism that increased air connectivity will act as a catalyst for economic growth and facilitate travel across the region.
