QUETTA by Hasan Hasrat..Provincial Minister Sadiq Umrani has submitted a joint resolution in the Balochistan Assembly, urging a reduction in airline fares, ARY News reported.
The resolution emphasized that the closure of the national highway between Quetta and Karachi has left air travel as the only viable option for many, including those transporting patients to Karachi for medical treatment.
It further highlighted that airlines operating on the Quetta-Karachi route have drastically increased their fares, with one-way tickets now costing PKR 70,000.
The provincial minister, along with other proponents of the resolution, called on the provincial government to engage with federal authorities to ensure a significant reduction in airfare prices.
βAirfares on routes from Quetta to Karachi and Islamabad have surged sharply. Previously priced between PKR 17,000 and PKR 20,000, tickets now cost between PKR 72,000 and PKR 100,000,β the resolution stated.
The Balochistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also raised concerns, sending a letter to the Ministry of Aviation about the exorbitant increase in ticket prices. The Chamber noted that PIA operates a limited number of flights, allowing private airlines to impose excessive charges.
The Chamberβs president has urged the authorities to mandate PIA and other airlines to increase their flights to Quetta to ease the financial burden on travelers
