Author: holidayweekly

KARACHI:  Last week Etihad Airways hosted an elegant luncheon at Marriott Hotel Karachi to celebrate its valued travel trade partners. The event was organized under the gracious hospitality of   Mr. Ahmed Zahoor, General Manager–Pakistan, Etihad Airways and was attended by a distinguished gatherings of senior leaders from the city’s travel and tourism industry.    Adding prestige to the occasion was the presence of Mr. Wafi Ishaq, Regional General Manager ISC and GCC Etihad Airways, who specially flew in from Abu Dhabi to lead the proceedings. With over two decades of rich experience in the aviation industry, Mr. Ishaq has been…

COLOMBO: In a strategic move to revive its tourism industry, Sri Lanka has extended its free visa policy for tourists from 40 countries from August 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026. This initiative follows the success of the initial visa-free entry scheme launched in March 2023 and aims to attract international travelers, boost economic growth, and support the country’s recovery from both the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Previously, the visa waiver covered seven key nations—China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan. Under the newly expanded policy, the program now includes major global…

GILGIT: In a landmark environmental move, Gilgit-Baltistan authorities have imposed a sweeping moratorium on all new hotel construction and expansion near key lakes in Hunza and ecologically sensitive zones in the Baltistan division. The decision follows a recommendation by the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency (GB-EPA), which urged a five-year ban to protect the fragile mountain ecology and prevent further environmental degradation in these popular tourist regions. According to a notification issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Hunza on July 11, all new No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the construction or expansion of commercial and residential structures in the Attabad, Borit, and…

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has shortlisted four potential investors to take over Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), marking a significant step forward in its drive to privatize the struggling national carrier. The Ministry of Privatization announced on July 9, 2025, that two consortiums and two standalone entities had cleared the prequalification stage. The decision was endorsed during a meeting chaired by Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatization. The shortlisted parties include: 1: Airblue (a Pakistani airline) 2: Fauji Foundation (through Fauji Fertilizer) 3: Consortium 1: Lucky Cement, Hub Power, Kohat Cement, and Metro Ventures 4: Consortium 2:…

DUBAI: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has named Qatari royal and elite mountaineer Sheikha Asma Al Thani as Pakistan’s Brand Ambassador for Mountains and Tourism, following her historic summit of Nanga Parbat, one of the world’s most dangerous peaks. The announcement came shortly after Sheikha Asma became the first Qatari woman to scale the 8,126-metre peak known as “Killer Mountain”, located in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region. Her appointment as Pakistan’s tourism ambassador is being seen as both a diplomatic gesture and a strategic move to promote Pakistan’s vast mountain ranges as a global destination for high-altitude adventure. In a statement posted…

By Ch. Faisal Mahmood 

ISLAMABAD: Chairing a high-level meeting on tourism, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s untapped potential, from snow-capped peaks to serene rivers, deserts to heritage sites that can rival any destination in the world. Prime Minister called for the creation of special tourism zones to transform Pakistan into a premier global tourist destination through public private partnership. Key directives include: This high level meeting held on 30th June was attended by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Federal Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry, Minister for Azad Jammu & Kashmir,…

GILGIT-BALTISTAN: The government has formally launched the upgrade project of Skardu International Airport, marking a key milestone in strengthening air connectivity and unlocking the economic potential of Gilgit-Baltistan. The formal launch event took place at a local resort in Skardu, where the joint venture consultancy, comprising Swiss firm Intairplan and its Pakistani partners, presented their strategic roadmap for the airport’s development. Senior officials from the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) attended the meeting, including the Director Planning & Development, the Additional Director Project Monitoring, Project Director Skardu International Airport, and the Airport Manager Skardu. Reforms in aviation sector reviewed: PM for…

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed on Wednesday direct flights from Lahore to Paris after a gap of five years.The airline had announced resumption of of Lahore-Paris flights last month. The first weekly flight from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport to Paris departed at 12 noon.A total of 276 passengers boarded the flight PK-733.The PIA is already operating two weekly flights from Islamabad to Paris.For this flight, a Boeing 777 aircraft was operated, which had recently undergone an interior refurbishment to enhance passenger comfort, according to the PIA. To mark the resumption of PIA’s Paris-bound flights, a ceremony was held…

ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways has further increased its flight frequencies to Karachi, Pakistan, with tickets now on sale. This expansion is part of the airline’s ongoing commitment to provide guests with more travel options and enhanced connectivity. From October 1, Etihad will start flying four times a day on the Abu Dhabi – Karachi route, providing a total of 28 weekly nonstop services to Pakistan’s economic hub. The enhanced flight frequencies and optimised departure and arrival times are carefully designed to provide guests with maximum convenience and seamless connectivity across Etihad’s expanding global network, including the UAE, the Middle East…