The launch is hailed as a vital step toward ending years of travel isolation for the province
Passengers queue at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi to obtain boarding passes for the inaugural flight to Turbat. Photo: NNI
QUETTA:
Years of travel isolation for Balochistan moved closer to an end on Thursday as Governor Jafar Khan Mandokhail inaugurated South Airlines’ maiden domestic flight connecting Quetta and Turbat, described as a major breakthrough in regional aviation.
The launch, hailed as a vital step toward ending years of travel isolation for the province, met with widespread appreciation from local representatives, who have long advocated for better transport infrastructure.
Speaking to an audience of provincial leaders, aviation executives, and local dignitaries, Governor Mandokhail said that this new route is just the beginning of a broader strategy to integrate Balochistan’s far-flung districts with the rest of Pakistan.
“The introduction of local routes builds nicely on recently established international flights from Quetta to Jeddah and Zahedan,” he said. “The government is already working closely with aviation authorities to soon introduce regular flights to and from Zhob and Panjgur,” he added.
Reflecting on the progress made over the last two years, the governor emphasised that the ultimate goal is to ensure every resident of the province has a fast, safe, and affordable way to travel to any city in the country.
Seeing the high passenger turnout on the very first intra-provincial flight, he urged both South Airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority to quickly establish additional links, specifically requesting routes connecting Zhob to Islamabad, Multan, and Dera Ismail Khan, alongside Panjgur connections to Karachi and Quetta.
The launch of the flight was welcomed by the local representatives who have long advocated for better transport infrastructure. Provincial Education Minister Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani remarked that the new service directly addresses a severe transportation gap that has burdened local travelers for years.
“Reliable air travel offers a much-needed, secure alternative to the long and often hazardous road journeys across the province’s vast terrain,” said MPA Rahmat Saleh Baloch. He expressed gratitude for the administrative support that paved the way for infrastructure improvements 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 easier travel across the region.
