Faisalabad: Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) will sensitize concerned departments to start operation of large aircraft from Faisalabad International Airport, while a monthly coordination meeting will also be ensured to resolve issues faced by air travelers from Faisalabad.
Addressing the meeting of the Standing Committee on International Tourism of FCCI, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Rehan Naseem Bharara said that PIA has a legacy of excellence and is considered one of the established airlines of the world.
He said the PIA and FCCI should join hands to restore the lost glory of the national flag bearer.
He especially appreciated the efforts of former FCCI Chairman Mian Javed Iqbal who played a key role in starting direct international flights from Faisalabad. Emphasizing the need for punctuality in air operations, he said that the timings of various flights from Faisalabad should be determined in consultation with the business community.
Shahid Hussain, Area Director, PIA, said that with a total of 17 operational aircraft, PIA was operating three domestic aircraft in addition to international flights to Jeddah, Medina, Dubai and Muscat.
He said 70% of international passengers used this route when Faisalabad had two daily flights to Karachi.
He said mobile technology has also had a negative impact on frequent travel as people prefer to attend important meetings via Zoom.
Nadeem Iqbal, standing committee of the conference, welcomed the participants and said that currently three weekly flights are getting a reasonable load of passengers. He appreciated the cooperation between PIA and FCCI and said it should continue in the future to further facilitate the business community.
The meeting was also attended by Irfan Mahmood, Sajid Maqbool, Shahid Habib, M. Shahid, Muhammad Jamil Kasana, Mrs. Hajra Tabassum, and Hamid Al-Jilani. Later, President Rehan Naseem Bharara presented the FCCI shield to PIA Zonal Director Shahid Hussain.