Author: holidayweekly

ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways will launch direct flights to Peshawar, Pakistan, from September 29, 2025, further expanding its footprint in South Asia. The route will connect Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport with Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar. The new addition makes Peshawar the fourth Pakistani city served by the UAE’s national carrier, joining existing routes to Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore. Initially operating five times a week, the service will increase to daily flights starting 22 November 2025. Etihad will deploy its Airbus A320 aircraft on the route, configured with eight Business Class and 150 Economy seats. “We are thrilled…

ISLAMABAD: Under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to commence international flights to Uzbekistan. In addition, private airlines will also be engaged to accelerate trade and tourism connectivity between the two countries. This development was announced during a meeting between Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, and Uzbekistan’s Minister for Tourism, Umid Shadiev. The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, was also in attendance. During the meeting, both sides underscored the significant potential for collaboration in the tourism sector. Haroon Akhtar Khan expressed Pakistan’s full…

LAHORE: Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi announced on Wednesday that the Punjab government has officially decided to upgrade the Lahore and Rawalpindi railway stations to meet international standards. As part of this initiative, the government plans to introduce a range of modern facilities at both stations. These upgrades will include escalators, newly renovated washrooms, enhanced waiting areas, and other essential amenities aimed at significantly improving passenger comfort and convenience. Minister Abbasi emphasized that these enhancements will transform the stations into more contemporary, passenger-friendly spaces that align with global expectations. He further highlighted the government’s commitment to modernizing the overall railway…

LAHORE: Pakistan Railways has announced a schedule change for three mail and express trains and several passenger trains effective April 15, 2025. According to the new schedule issued on Tuesday, Khyber Mail (2Dn) will depart from Peshawar Cantt at 10:00 PM and arrive at Karachi Cantt at 6:20 AM on the third day. Allama Iqbal Express (10Dn) will leave Sialkot at 7:00 AM and reach Karachi Cantt at 9:15 AM the following day, Jaffar Express (40Dn) will depart from Peshawar Cantt at 7:00 AM and reach Quetta at 5:00 PM the next day. Ad powered by advergic.comThal Express (129Up) will…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has officially unveiled its pre-Hajj operation schedule for 2025, set to commence on April 29 and continue through June 1. During this period, the national flag carrier will operate 280 dedicated Hajj flights, facilitating the sacred journey of over 56,000 Pakistani pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Sources confirm that out of the total pilgrims, 20,000 will travel under the Government Hajj Scheme, while 36,000 will perform Hajj via the Private Scheme, all utilizing PIA’s services. To ensure a smooth and comfortable experience, the airline will deploy a fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 aircraft for…

ISLAMABAD: In a major development, Sweden has announced the resumption of visa processing for Pakistani citizens, effective April 9, 2025. The Swedish Embassy in Islamabad confirmed that applications for work and study residence permits will now be processed locally, offering a significant relief to applicants who previously had to travel to Ethiopia for visa procedures. According to the embassy, individuals applying for residence permits for work, study, or family reunification can now complete their application process at the Swedish Embassy in Islamabad. However, this resumption does not apply to Schengen or short-term visit visas (valid for up to 90 days).…

ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Islamabad hosted an Iftar reception to celebrate the Navruz Day at Marriot hotel Islamabad, marking the arrival of spring and the renewal of life with a cultural gathering that reflected Uzbekistan’s deep connection to this historic festival. Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism, Aftab Rana said that this year’s Novruz celebration coincided with the holy month of Ramadan, making it a special time to reflect on the values of generosity and togetherness. He said that this event beautifully reflects the cultural harmony and regional friendship. He also emphasized that tourism is…

CHITRAL: Pakistan International Airlines will resume its flights to Chitral from Islamabad from April 5 initially on a weekly basis after a gap of about three years. An official at the PIA’s district sales office told Dawn that the ATR-72 flight would land at Chitral airport at 10am on April 5 and depart back for Islamabad after two hours. The people of Chitral have, however, expressed their displeasure over the PIA’s decision to operate only a weekly flight, and demanded daily flights keeping in view the growing demand of people. Former MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali has said the PIA…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken a significant step towards modernizing its passport printing system by acquiring state-of-the-art e-passport printers from Germany. This upgrade aims to enhance both efficiency and security in passport issuance. As part of this modernization effort, the country has received two high-tech e-passport printers along with six desktop printers. Director General of Immigration and Passports, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, recently visited the e-printer section to inspect the newly installed equipment. “These advanced printers have the capacity to process up to 1,000 passports per hour, which will greatly improve Pakistan’s ability to meet growing demand,” he stated. To ensure seamless…

ISLAMABAD: ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s travel and tourism market is poised to generate over $4 billion in revenue by 2025, according to a report by Statista Travel and Tourism Pakistan, as cited by The News. The industry is anticipated to experience an annual growth rate of 6.75% from 2025 to 2029, potentially reaching a market volume of $5.53 billion by the end of the forecast period. The report identifies ‘Package Holidays’ as the leading segment, projected to yield $1.92 billion in revenue in 2025. By 2029, the number of users in this category is expected to surge to 22.17 million, with user…