CHITRAL: On June 1, 2026, a delegation of South Air, headed by its Chief Executive Kanwar Muhammad Tariq, met Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at the Governor House. During the meeting, the airline announced that, after completing its operational and regulatory preparations, it would soon launch regular flights to Chitral as part of its plan to connect remote regions of the country with the national air network. The Governor welcomed the initiative and assured the airline of his full support, describing Chitral as an important destination for tourism and economic development.

A week later, during another meeting held ahead of the Shandur Festival, South Air representatives again informed the Governor that flights from Islamabad to Chitral would commence as soon as the required regulatory permissions were obtained. This created genuine hope among the people of Chitral, who have long suffered because of the absence of regular and reliable air services.

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Now, almost two months have passed, but there has been no further announcement regarding the promised service. While the public understands that launching a new airline involves regulatory approvals, operational clearances and logistical challenges, complete silence only creates uncertainty and disappointment.

The people of Chitral deserve to know where the project stands. Has the airline obtained the required permissions? Are there technical or commercial hurdles? Has the launch been delayed, or is it still on schedule?

South Air would earn public confidence by issuing a brief progress update. Even if the flights are delayed, honest communication is always better than silence. Chitral has waited years for dependable air connectivity, and its people deserve to be kept informed about a project that was announced with such optimism. .. CN report, 27 July 2026