GILGIT: Government of Gilgit-Baltistan has decided to impose a 14-day stricter lockdown in Gilgit, Skardu, Astore and Hunza districts to curtail the spread of Coronavirus. Addressing the meeting of Provincial Coordination Committee, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan has said that the step was being taken on the recommendations of health experts, Home and Health Departments and law enforcement agencies. Medical stores, shops of essential items, vegetable vendors and businesses affiliated with construction industry will be allowed to operate under stricter SOPs. The meeting has decided that people from other parts of the country will not be allowed to enter Gilgit-Baltistan. They said…
Author: holidayweekly
ISLAMABAD: The Tourism Recovery Action Committee (TRAC) has formulated a three-pronged strategy to mitigate socio-economic impact of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on tourism sector which has been remained closed since impositions of the lockdowns across the country for containing the virus spread. The TRAC also developed the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for hotels and accommodation facilities, food outlets/eateries, tours operator companies, tourist transportation and airlines to address issue of health, hygiene and safety of the tourists, employees and businesses. The committee was formed by the National Tourism Coordination board (NTCB) recently to evolve immediate support measures for tourism businesses and…
DOHA: Qatar Airways’ share of the passenger and air cargo market has grown significantly over the past three months, marking Qatar Airways the current largest passenger airline and the largest cargo airline in the world. Qatar Airways Cargo has prioritised medical and aid shipments working closely with governments and NGOs to transport over 200,000 tonnes of essential supplies to impacted regions. The airline has continued to operate a significant schedule operating over 15,000 flights to take over 1.8 million people home. Qatar Airways Cargo has become the leader in global air freight since the blockade was imposed on June 5,…
KARACHI At this point in time, survival of some ancient rock art may not be the most important item in Pakistan, but here it is anyway. There is a possibility that due to the construction of the Diamer-Basha Dam, some 30,000 carvings and inscriptions will sink in water and will vanish forever. [huge_it_slider id=”553″] A collage of carvings and inscriptions of different periods has pointed that this extraordinary heritage is on the brink of destruction on the proposed site of the Diamer-Basha Dam. The mountainous region of Pakistan which lies between the western Himalayas, the Korakoram in the east and…
MONTREAL: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that demand for air services is beginning to recover after hitting the bottom in April and global passenger traffic rose by 30 percent in May from a very low level in April. Passenger demand in April had plunged 94.3 percent compared to the same month in 2019, as the COVID-19-related travel restrictions virtually shut down domestic and international air travel. This is a rate of decline never seen in the history of IATA’s traffic series, which dates back to 1990. Figures show that daily flight totals rose 30 percent between the low…
DUBAI: The Dubai-based low-cost carrier said it will start special repatriation flights to multiple cities in 11 countries with immediate effects. As the UAE government eased restrictions on travel movements and announced reopening of its airports, flydubai has launched repatriation flights to selected destinations including multiple cities of India and Pakistan with an immediate effect. The Dubai-based low-cost carrier on Friday, June 5, said it will start special repatriation flights to multiple cities in 11 countries to facilitate their citizens and stranded passengers in the UAE. The UAE residents and stranded citizens of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran, Bulgaria, Finland, Georgia,…
LONDON: WTM London is insisting it will go ahead in London this November as planned despite the Covid-19 pandemic. While other November travel industry events, such as the British Travel Awards, have been switched to virtual formats, WTM says it will take place at ExCel just as in previous years. Organisers refused to answer questions about whether it will be a scaled down event or whether there will be more flexible cancellation terms for exhibitors in light of the pandemic uncertainty. Announcing the plans to press ahead, WTM London senior exhibition director Simon Press said: “Now, more than ever before,…
LONDON: British Airways has reportedly refused to join a call with Home Secretary Priti Patel amid an escalating row over the Government’s plan to quarantine all UK arrivals from next week. Alex Cruz, the airline’s Chief Executive, declined to join an industry call with Ms. Patel and aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst on Thursday. Industry sources told that BA believed the meeting was a “waste of time”, amid anger over the “unworkable” decision to press ahead with asking all travellers to the UK to isolate for 14 days or face a fine. The firm, which is planning up to 12,000 redundancies…
ISTANBUL: Turkey plans to resume flights with around 40 countries in June and has reached preliminary agreements for reciprocal air travel with 15 countries, Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoglu said on Thursday, June 4. Turkey largely sealed off its borders as part of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Domestic flights resumed on Monday to some provinces as Ankara eased restrictions after a significant drop in infection rates. Karaismailoglu said flights would resume in five stages in June, adding Turkey was in talks with 92 countries on resuming flights in a safe manner. “We believe that we have left behind an…
MUSCAT: Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, is meeting or exceeding the highest fleet-maintenance standards in preparation of its return to scheduled service, the airline said. In line with long-established quality-assurance measures and aircraft manufacturers’ recommended procedures, a comprehensive programme is in place to ensure that aircraft are properly maintained during the storage period. Rigorous programmes are in place to ensure that all aircraft systems were properly prepared for storage and are correctly maintained until they return to service. As maintenance workers address these needs, thorough, detailed plans are in place to ensure their personal safety.…