The first flight of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) left the newly built Sialkot international airport (SIA) for Kuwait, officials said. It had 102 passengers on-board. The PIA would operate a weekly flight on Sialkot-Kuwait route. The airline is considering expanding its network to other international destinations in near future, with a focus on initiating Haj and Umrah flights from Sialkot. The cargo flights would also be started in the near future from this airport. Officials said the business community of Sialkot has set a unique precedent by establishing an international airport on self-help basis. SIA Limited Chairman Baber Iqbal said that the airport would soon start its shuttle bus service from the airport to pick and drop passengers.
