Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari announced on Saturday that the provincial government has approved the launch of its own airline called Air Punjab. She said the airline would start its operations within the next eight months to one year. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Uzma Bukhari shared that Pakistan is now ready to have its first provincial airline and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had recently given approval for this project.
The idea for Air Punjab first came up in November 2024 after the attempt of the federal government to sell Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) failed due to low offers.
Uzma Bukhari said that four aircrafts will be immediately leased for Air Punjab. She explained that according to aviation rules any new airline must operate domestically for at least one year before it can start international flights. She also mentioned that the Punjab government is already working on completing all necessary formalities like licensing and leasing.
Uzma Bukhari also announced Pakistan’s first bullet train service project during a press conference. This high speed train will run between Lahore and Rawalpindi and will cover the distance in just two hours and twenty minutes. The Punjab government will work together with Pakistan Railways to make this project happen.
Uzma Bukhari said that CM Maryam Nawaz has also asked for plans to introduce high speed train services on six other routes across Punjab including Lahore to Shahdara and Narowal, Lahore to Raiwind and Kasur, Pakpattan to Lodhran, Sheikhupura to Shorkot, Shorkot to Sargodha via Jhang and Lala Musa to Sargodha via Malakwal. She added that the railway system in Punjab will be completely modernized.
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