Pakistani Flag Carrier To Launch Quetta-Mashad Flights

Islamabad, Feb 16, IRNA - The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will take pilgrims from Quetta to Mashad as of February 25, a media report said on Saturday. Daily ‘Dawn’ quoted PIA’s General Manager in Balochistan Abdul Baqi Baloch as saying that initially two flights would fly every week which would start from Lahore and go to Mashhad via Quetta. He said the PIA is resuming its operation to Mashad after 10 years. After a recent attack in Balochistan on a pilgrims’ bus returning from Iran, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch had urged the federal government to start flights for pilgrims from Quetta. Scores of pilgrims have lost their lives in attacks on convoys returning from Iran. Baqi said 118 passengers will enjoy the journey through these flights to take place every Saturday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, a delegation of the PIA officials met Iranian Consul General Hassan Yehyavi and informed him about the launch of flights for Mashhad. Yehyavi thanked the government of Pakistan and PIA for the plan and voiced his governmentˈs all-out support in that regard./end