The launch is hailed as a vital step in ending years of travel isolation in the province.
Passengers queue at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi to obtain boarding passes for the inaugural flight to Turbat. Photo: NNI
QUETA:
Years of travel lockdown in Balochistan came to an end on Thursday as Governor Jafar Khan Mandokhail inaugurated South Airlines’ first domestic flight connecting Quetta and Turbat, described as a breakthrough in regional aviation.
The launch, hailed as a vital step in ending years of travel isolation in the province, received widespread recognition from local representatives, who have long advocated for better transportation infrastructure.
Speaking to an audience of provincial leaders, aviation executives and local dignitaries, Governor Mandokhail said this new route is just the beginning of a broader strategy to integrate the remote districts of Balochistan with the rest of Pakistan.
“The introduction of local routes adds nicely to the 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 past two years, the governor emphasized that the ultimate goal is to ensure that every resident of the province has a fast, safe and affordable way to travel to any city in the country.
Seeing the huge influx of passengers on the first intra-provincial flight, he urged both South Airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority to quickly establish additional links, specifically requesting routes connecting Zhob with Islamabad, Multan and Dera Ismail Khan, along with connections from Panjgur to Karachi and Quetta.
The launch of the flight was welcomed by local representatives, who have long advocated for better transportation infrastructure. Provincial Education Minister Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani said the new service directly addresses a serious transportation gap that has burdened local commuters for years.
“Reliable air travel offers a safe and much-needed alternative to long and often dangerous 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 groundbreaking ceremony, which also marked the inauguration of the airline’s new regional office, concluded with strong optimism that greater air connectivity will act as a catalyst for economic growth and facilitate travel across the region.
