ISLAMABAD, July 4 (Gwadar Pro) -The direct weekly passenger flights starting from July 6 between Pak
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By Fatima Javed | Gwadar Pro Jul 4, 2022
ISLAMABAD, July 4 (Gwadar Pro) -The direct weekly passenger flights starting from July 6 between Pakistan’s capital Islamabad to Chengdu, China the City of Pandas connect hearts and souls of the two brotherly countries.
The flight will expand tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The initiative is expected to develop not only economic and trade relations between the two countries but also to facilitate Chengdu based companies investing in the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, Pakistan’s former Counsel General (CG) to Chengdu told Gwadar Pro that “It’s an honor to have contributed to the realization of the dream of starting Islamabad-Chengdu flight.”
As former CG to Chengdu, he played an active role to start direct flights between the two cities. He said, “during my tenure I clearly recognized the strategic, political, economic, and trade significance of Chengdu and the need to start a direct flight from Chengdu to Islamabad to tap the potential of both countries and people.”
“Chengdu, apart from being a majestic and heavenly city, has seen enormous economic growth and has become one of the best cities to live in. I wanted more Pakistanis to visit the city of Pandas and it’s adjoining inspiring cities. I am very delighted that the 6 July flight will help meet those goals”, he added.
Shehryar Chishti, an eminent entrepreneur in Pakistan, commented that the flight provides a major opportunity to the businesses community to promote their business ties. Chengdu has world-class expertise in industrial and infrastructure development and he hopes that Pakistan’s industrial elite can benefit from that expertise with direct flight facilitating communication and movement amongst people.
According to the schedule, PK-870, the first flight for the new destination, will take off from Islamabad International Airport at 8 am on July 6, and will touch down at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 4 pm local time after a flight duration of approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes.
The same day, PK-871 will depart from Chengdu at 6 pm local time and will reach Islamabad at 8:20 pm local time after a flight of 5 hours and 20 minutes.
The final decision on resumption of direct flights between Pakistan and China operated by PIA was taken at a meeting between Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and China’s State Councilor, Wang Yi in Guangzhou, China in May. The two leaders agreed on the increase of direct flights between the two countries.