UNITED KINGDOM: Pakistan Airlines Passenger Mistakes Emergency Door For Toilet, Opens It

A female passenger on board a PIA flight opened an emergency exit door thinking it was the door to the toilet.

The PIA flight, PK 702, from Manchester to Islamabad was delayed by seven hours. The departure was delayed on Friday night when a passenger erroneously opened the emergency exit causing the emergency chute to activate, said a PIA spokesperson.

During the investigation, the woman said she believed it was the door to the toilet.

The incident happened as the plane was parked on the runway ready to take off. All the passengers were offloaded from the flight and their luggage was removed

The passengers were offloaded as was their luggage. The PIA spokesperson said passengers were all put up in hotels.

As per standard operating procedure, the PIA had to offload nearly 40 passengers and their luggage, PIA spokesperson told media.

The spokesperson said that PIA chief executive Air Marshal Arshad Malik had ordered an inquiry into the incident.

According to an aviation industry expert, deploying an emergency slide is not a small incident. It actually costs an airline between $6,000 and $30,000 (Dh22,038 and Dh110,190) whenever the emergency chute is deployed.


Tourism Observer

PAKISTAN: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Moves 85 Flight Attendants From Karachi To Islamabad

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), transferred 85 flight attendants from Karachi to Islamabad.

PIA administration, in a notification, directed concerned stewards and stewardesses to report to Base In-charge Flight Services in Islamabad for further assignment of duties within six days following the recent transfers.

The notification stated that special allowances will be given to the flight attendants for transportation as married officials will get a one-month allowance and unmarried personnel will be provided 15 days allowance besides provision of free air passage including their families, if married.

For the transportation of baggage, married officials can carry up to 273 kilograms while unmarried attendants can take away 182 kilograms if travelling by air.

The officials will be allowed to take 1119 kilograms baggage if travelling through surface transportation while unmarried personnel will be allowed to carry up to 746 kilograms.

On April 15, the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) had decided to launch action against facilitators of crew members deployed abroad in contravention of stipulated rules.


Tourism Observer

PAKISTAN: US Slaps Pakistan With Sanctions Over Refusal To Take Back Its Citizen Deportees

The US has imposed sanctions on Pakistan after Islamabad refused to take back its citizen deportees and visa over-stayers from America, warning that it may withhold visas of Pakistanis beginning from its senior officials.

The State Department on Friday said that consular operations in Pakistan remain unchanged as of now but as a result of such a sanction mentioned in a Federal Register notification dated April 22, the US may withhold visas of Pakistanis beginning with its senior officials.

Pakistan is the latest to join the list of 10 nations that have been imposed with sanctions under a US law according to which countries refusing to take back deportees and visa over-stayers will be denied American visas.

Notably eight of these countries have been slapped with such visa sanctions under the Trump administration. Two of them, Ghana and Pakistan have been included in the list this year.

The other countries include Guyana in 2001, the Gambia in 2016, Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea, and Sierra Leone in 2017, Burma and Laos in 2018.

Under Section 243 (d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of State is required to discontinue granting immigration or non-immigrant visas to a nation upon receiving notice from the Homeland Security Secretary that the country has denied or is unreasonably delaying accepting a citizen, subject, national or resident of that country.

The State Department tried to downplay the impact of the sanctions on Pakistan.

Consular operations in Pakistan remain unchanged, a State Department Spokesperson told PTI when asked about the federal register notification.

This is a bilateral issue of ongoing discussion between the US and Pakistani governments and we are not going to get into the specifics at this time, the spokesperson said.

Former Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, feels that this will make things difficult for Pakistanis.

This measure will create hardship for Pakistanis who want or need to travel to the US and could have been avoided if Pakistani authorities had not ignored American requests to respect their legal requirements for deportation,Haqqani told PTI, days after the federal register notification.

He said that Pakistan's refusal to accept its citizens deported from the US is not new.

Pakistan's refusal to accept every Pakistani citizen deported from the US is not new. It seems that the US is no longer willing to overlook a wide range of official Pakistani behaviour. Bonhomie has been replaced by sanctions and restrictions based on Islamabad's policy decisions, Haqqani said.


Tourism Observer

PAKISTAN: Taxila, One Of The Most Important Archaeological Sites In Pakistan

Dharmarajika stupa,Taxila
Taxila is an ancient city in Pakistan, just 30kms north of Islamabad. Taxila is one of the most important archaeological sites in Pakistan and the world. 18 of its sites are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The city dates back to the Ancient GandhAran city of Takshashila or Takkasila or Taxila an important Vedic/Hindu and Buddhist center of learning from the 6th century BC to the 5th century CE.

This is the region from where Buddhism travelled to the far east - and Persians, Greeks under Alexander the Great, Central Asians and Hindus all subsequently left their mark.

You can watch the sun set from the remains of a Buddhist monastery or wander through the streets of an excavated Persian city in the knowledge that there are two older ones buried below. Today, Taxila is the center of Pakistan's engineering industry.

Taxila meaning City of Cut Stone or Takṣa Rock is an important archaeological site of the ancient Indian subcontinent, located in the city of Taxila in Punjab, Pakistan. It lies about 32 km (20 mi) north-west of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, just off the famous Grand Trunk Road.

Taxila was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 in particular for the ruins of the four settlement sites which reveal the pattern of urban evolution on the Indian subcontinent through more than five centuries.

The serial site includes a number of monuments and other historical places of note in the area besides the four settlements at Bhir, Saraikala, Sirkap, and Sirsukh. They count 18 in all:

- Khanpur Cave

- Saraikala, prehistoric mound

- Bhir Mound

- Sirkap, a fortified city.

- Sirsukh a fortified ruined city.

- Dharmarajika stupa and monastery.

- Khader Mohra or Akhuri.

- Kalawan group of buildings.

- Giri complex of monuments

- Kunala stupa and monastery

- Jandial complex

- Lalchak and Badalpur Buddhist stuppa

- Mohra Moradu stupa and monastery

- Pippala stupa and monastery

- Jaulian stupa and monastery

- Lalchak mounds

- Buddhist remains around Bhallar stupa

- Giri Mosque and tombs

In a 2010 report, Global Heritage Fund identified Taxila as one of 12 worldwide sites most on the Verge of irreparable loss and damage, citing insufficient management, development pressure, looting, and war and conflict as primary threats.

In 2017, it was announced that Thailand would assist in conservation efforts at Taxila, as well as at Buddhist sites in the Swat Valley.

Historically, Takṣasila lay at the crossroads of three major trade routes:

The uttarapatha, the northern road—the later Grand Trunk Road or GT Road—the royal road which connected Gandhara in the west to the kingdom of Magadha and its capital Paṭaliputra in the valley of the Ganges in the east.

The northwestern route through Bactria, Kapisa, and Puṣkalavati.

The Sindu or Indus River route from Kashmir and Central Asia, via Srinagar, Mansehra, and the Haripur valley across the Khunjerab pass to the Silk Road in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south. The Khunjerab passes between Kashmir and Xinjiang—the current Karakoram highway—and was traversed in antiquity.

Taxila is home to a vast network of ancient ruins, connected by road. Unfortunately, the museum there is quite small and without much information aside from a brief timeline. You should read about the site before you go, as the museum won't tell you very much.

There are no dioramas or reconstructions of what the sites looked like, so you'll need to use your imagination.

The main ruins of Taxila are divided into three major cities, each belonging to a distinct time period. The oldest of these is the Hathial area, which yielded surface shards similar to burnished red wares or soapy red wares recovered from early phases at Charsadda, and may date between the 6th century BCE and the late 2nd millennium BCE.

Bhir Mound dates from the 6th century BCE. The second city of Taxila is located at Sirkap and was built by Greco-Bactrian kings in the 2nd century BCE. The third and last city of Taxila is at Sirsukh and relates to the Kushan kings.

In addition to the ruins of the city, a number of buddhist monasteries and stupas also belong to the Taxila area.

Some of the important ruins of this category include the ruins of the stupa at Dharmarajika, built by Maurya emperor Ashoka, where according to local custom bone and tooth fragments from the Buddha were buried, and where a Greek-style statue of Aphrodite was unearthed.

There is also the monastery at Jaulian, the monastery at Mohra Muradu in addition to a number of stupas.

From Islamabad International Airport you can go in and out of Taxila.

Taxila is located 30kms north of Islamabad. You can hire a Taxi or a Car.

You may get around via Taxi or Car

The museum costs 500 rupees for foreigners, and 20 rupees for foreigners from SAR countries. To get entrance to the ruins, it's an additional 500 rupees. You may pay at the museum or the ruins.

At the ruins, self-deputized tour guides may begin to show you around. Frequently their English is not very good and they don't really tell you anything you can't read from the signs, then strongly imply that they want a tip.

If you want some local color, go ahead, but otherwise tell them to thanks immediately. But now some educated guides are offering there services. You may be approached by numerous guides at each site. In addition, people selling trinkets like small statues and allegedly old coins may come up to you.

Taxila Travel & Tours, Malik Waheed Plaza, near barrier #1Taxila. Tour Organiser, Provide Guide, Transport, Meal and stay in Taxila.

There is little shade at Taxila and it may be very hot. But it is at some spots, overall Taxila is Rich in Greanery with fountains. Bring water, a hat, and sunscreen.

More sites to visit:

- Taxila Museum dedicated mainly to the remains of Gandhara civilization.

- Mughal Garden

You may have meals at the below Restaurants:

- Gandhara Restaurant

- DreamLand Hotel & Restaurant

Though be advised you may get sick. A better option is to bring your own snacks and eat a meal in Islamabad.

Along the main highway to and from the various ruin sites there are a number of shacks selling trinkets, pots, and a local phenomenon nicknamed the Disco cat.

The disco cat is a plaster statue of a cat or panther, covered in small square pieces of mirror, much like a disco ball. Small ones should run you 600 rupees, while larger ones can be 2,000 or more. They make a great conversation piece or gift.

No separate accommodation is needed for Taxila, one can easily stay in Islamabad and visit Taxila. But If you still need accommodation in Taxila then there is PTDC motel which is located in front of Museum and certain other rest houses in Taxila.

PTDC Motel, though the rooms are basic and can use some extra cleaning, it's an acceptable lodging.
Across from the museum.

Gandhara Motel, this hotel offers much better value than the nearby PTDC hotel.
On Khanpur Road a few hundred meters south of the museum.


Tourism Observer

PAKISTAN: Heavy Rains Pound Rawalpindi And Islamabad

Intermittent downpours inundated low-lying areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad overnight, as authorities declared rain emergency in Rawalpindi late Monday.

At least 202 millimetres of rain was recorded in Rawalpindi, and 162 millimetres in the federal capital.

Heavy rain also raised the water level in Nullah Lai to 11ft, prompting the district administration to take precautionary measures to tackle possible flooding.

The downpours also plunged parts of Islamabad into darkness, with more than 70 feeders tripping in the city.

According to the Islamabad Electric Supply Company, repair work is under way to restore electricity in the affected areas.

Rain-thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds are expected at scattered places on Tuesday in Hazara, Kohat, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.

While at isolated places in Malakand, Peshawar, Mardan, Bannu, D.I. Khan, Zhob, Mirpurkhas, Bahawalpur divisions and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Hot and very humid weather is expected elsewhere in the country during the next 12 hours.


Tourism Observer

PAKISTAN: Alcohol Is Forbidden, Find At Modern Hotels And Be Wary Of Regular Beggars

Rawalpindi is in Pakistan. It is a bustling town strategically located between the Punjab and Azad Kashmir. It has a strong colonial influence and possesses a large military cantonment with the headquarters of the Pakistan Army.

It is the sister city of Islamabad, and is essentially the older sister of Islamabad. To locals, it is simply known as Pindi.

For the visitor Pindi offers a slice of real Pakistan in contrast to Islamabad - however there are few tourist attractions of note in the city. Bahria Town, a wealthy suburb to the south of Pindi, offers a couple of attractions that warrant an excursion.

Rawalpindi, commonly known as Pindi is a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Rawalpindi is adjacent to Pakistan's capital of Islamabad, and the two are jointly known as the twin cities because of strong social and economic links between the cities.

Rawalpindi is the fourth-largest city in Pakistan by population, while the larger Islamabad Rawalpindi metropolitan area is the country's third-largest metropolitan area.

Rawalpindi is located on the Pothohar Plateau, known for its ancient Buddhist heritage, especially in the neighbouring town of Taxila - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city was destroyed during the invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni before being taken over by Gakhars in 1493. In 1765, the ruling Gakhars were defeated as the city came under Sikh rule, and eventually became a major city within the Sikh Empire based in Lahore.

The city fell to the British Raj in 1849, and in 1851 became the largest garrison town for the British Indian Army. Following the partition of British India in 1947, the city became home to the headquarters of Pakistan Army hence retaining its status as a major military city.

Construction of Pakistan's new purpose-built national capital city of Islamabad in 1961 led to greater investment in the city, as well as a brief stint as the country's capital immediately before completion of Islamabad.

Modern Rawalpindi is socially and economically intertwined with Islamabad, and the greater metropolitan area. The city is also home to numerous suburban housing developments that serve as bedroom-communities for workers in Islamabad.

As home of Benazir Bhutto International Airport, and with connections to the M-1 and M-2 motorways, Rawalpindi is a major logistics and transportation centre for northern Pakistan.

The city is also home to historic havelis and temples, and serves as a hub for tourists visiting Rohtas Fort, Azad Kashmir, Taxila and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The word Rawalpindi consists of two Punjabi words; Rawal, and Pindi. The origin of the name may derive from the combination of two words:Rawal, meaning lake in Punjabi, and Pind, meaning village.

The combination of the two words thus means - The village of lake. Other sources have posited a Sanskrit origin of the city's name.

The region around Rawalpindi has been inhabited for thousands of years. Rawalpindi falls within the ancient boundaries of Gandhara, and is in a region littered with Buddhist ruins.

In the region north-west of Rawalpindi, traces have been found of at least 55 stupas, 28 Buddhist monasteries, 9 temples, and various artifacts in the Kharoshthi script.

To the southeast are the ruins of the Mankiala stupa – a 2nd-century stupa where, according to the Jataka tales, a previous incarnation of the Buddha leapt off a cliff in order to offer his corpse to seven hungry tiger cubs.

The nearby town of Taxila is thought to have been home to the world's first university. Sir Alexander Cunningham identified ruins on the site of the Rawalpindi Cantonment as the ancient city of Ganjipur, the capital of the Bhatti tribe in the ages preceding the Christian era.

During the Mughal era, Rawalpindi remained under the rule of the Ghakhar clan, who in turn pledged allegiance to the Mughal Empire. The city was developed as an important outpost in order to guard the frontiers of the Mughal realm.

Gakhars fortified a nearby caravanserai, in the 16th century, transforming it into the Rawat Fort in order to defend the Pothohar plateau from Sher Shah Suri's forces.

Construction of the Attock Fort in 1581 after Akbar led a campaign against his brother Mirza Muhammad Hakim, further securing Rawalpindi's environs.

In December 1585, the Emperor Akbar arrived in Rawalpindi, and remained in and around Rawalpindi for 13 years as he extended the frontiers of the empire, in an era described as a glorious period in his career as Emperor.

With the onset of chaos and rivalry between Gakhar chiefs after the death of Kamal Khan in 1559, Rawalpindi was awarded to Said Khan by the Mughal Emperor.

The Emperor Jehangir visited the royal camp in Rawalpindi in 1622, where he first learned of Shah Abbas I of Persia's plan to invade Kandahar.

In the years following independence, Rawalpindi saw an influx of Muhajir, Pashtun and Kashmiri settlers.

Having been the largest British Cantonment in the region at the dawn of Pakistan's independence, Rawalpindi was chosen as headquarters for the Pakistani Army, despite the fact that Karachi had been selected as the first capital.

In 1951, the Rawalpindi conspiracy took place in which leftist army officers conspired to depose the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan.

Rawalpindi later became the site of the Liaquat Ali Khan's assassination, in what is now known as Liaquat Bagh Park. In 1958, Field Marshal Ayub Khan launched his coup d'etat from Rawalpindi.

In 1959, the city became the interim capital of the country under Ayub Khan, who had sought the creation of a new planned capital of Islamabad in the vicinity of Rawalpindi.

As a result, Rawalpindi saw most major central government offices and institutions relocate to nearby territory, and its population rapidly expand.

Construction of Pakistan's new capital city of Islamabad in 1961 led to greater investment in Rawalpindi. Rawalpindi remained the headquarters of the Pakistani Army after the capital shifted to Islamabad in 1969, while the Pakistan Air Force continues to maintain an airbase in the Chaklala district of Rawalpindi.

The military dictatorship of General Zia ul Haq hanged Pakistan's deposed Prime Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in Rawalpindi in 1979.

In 1980, tens of thousands of Shia protestors led by Mufti Jaffar Hussain marched on Rawalpindi to protest a provision of Zia ul Haqs Islamization programme.

A spate of bombings in September 1987 took place in the city killing 5 people, in attacks that are believed to have been orchestrated by agents of Afghanistan's communist government.

On 10 April 1988, Rawalpindi's Ojhri Camp, an ammunition depot for Afghan mujahideen fighting against Soviet forces in Afghanistan, exploded and killed many in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

More than 93 were killed and another 1,100 wounded; many believe that the toll was much higher.

Riots erupted in Rawalpindi in 1992 as mobs attacked Hindu temples in retaliation for the destruction of the Babri Masjid in India by Hindu extremists.

In March 2003, Pakistani authorities captured Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, mastermind of the September 11th attacks in New York City. On 27 December 2007, Rawalpindi was the site of the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Modern Rawalpindi is socially and economically intertwined with Islamabad, and the greater metropolitan area. The city is also home to numerous suburban housing developments that serve as bedroom-communities for workers in Islamabad.

In June 2015, the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus, a new bus rapid transit line with various points in Islamabad, opened for service.

Rawalpindi features a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers, a wet monsoon and wet winters. Rawalpindi and its twin city Islamabad, during the year experiences an average of 91 thunderstorms, which is the highest frequency of any plain elevation city in the country.

Strong windstorms are frequent in the summer during which wind gusts have been reported by Pakistan Meteorological Department to have reached 176 km/h (109 mph). In such thunder/wind storms, which results in some damage of infrastructure.

The weather is highly variable due to the proximity of the city to the foothills of Himalayas.

The average annual rainfall is 1,200 mm (47 in), most of which falls in the summer monsoon season. However, westerly disturbances also bring quite significant rainfall in the winter.

In summer, the record maximum temperature has soared to 48.4 °C (119 °F) recorded in June 1954, while it has dropped to a minimum of −3.9 °C (25 °F) several occasions, though the last of which was in January 1967.

Social structures in Rawalpindi's historic core centre around neighbourhoods, each known as a Mohallah. Each neighbourhood is served by a nearby bazaar and mosque, which in turn serve as a place with diverse people can gather for trade and manufacturing.

Each Mohallah has narrow and short roads that are often unnamed. The grouping of houses around short lanes and cul-de-sacs lends a sense of privacy and security to residents of each neighbourhood. Major intersections in the neighbourhood are each referred to as a chowk.

South of Rawalpindi's historic core, and across the Lai Nullah, are the verdant and wide lanes of the Rawalpindi Cantonment. With tree-lined avenues and historic architecture, the cantonment was the main European area developed during British colonial rule.

British colonialists also built the Saddar Bazaar south of the historic core, which served as a retail centre geared towards Europeans in the city. Beyond the cantonment are the large suburban housing developments that serve as bedroom communities for Islamabad's commuter population.

The population of Rawalpindi is 2,098,231 in 2017. There are 84% of population are Punjabi and 9% consist of Pashto people and 7% others.

96.8% of Rawalpindi's population is Muslim, 2.47% is Christian, 0.73% belong to other religious groups. The city's Kohaati Bazaar is site of large Shia mourning-processions for Ashura.

The neighbourhoods of Waris Shah Mohallah and Pir Harra Mohallah form the core of Muslim settlement in Rawalpindi's old city.

Rawalpindi was a majority Hindu and Sikh city prior to the Partition of British India in 1947, while Muslims made up 43.79% of the population.

The Baba Dyal Singh Gurdwara in Rawalpindi was where the reformist Nirankari movement of Sikhism originated. The city's Sikh population is small, but has been bolstered by the arrival of Sikhs fleeing political instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[52]

The city is still home to a few hundred Hindu families. Despite the fact that the vast majority of the city's Hindus fled en masse to India after Partition, most Hindu temples in the old city remain standing, although in disrepair and often abandoned.

Many of the old city's neighbourhoods continue to bear Hindu and Sikh names, such as Krishanpura, Arya Mohallah, Akaal Garh, Mohanpura, Amarpura, Kartarpura, Bagh Sardaraan, Angatpura.

Rawalpindi's Krishna Temple, built in the Kabarri Bazaar in 1897, and the Guru Balmik Swamiji Temple in Rawalpindi Cantonment, remain open to the public.

Other temples are abandoned or were repurposed. Rawalpindi's large Kalyan Das Temple from 1880 has been used as the Gov't. Qandeel Secondary School for the Blind since 1973.

The Ram Leela Temple in Kanak Mandi, and the Kaanji Mal Ujagar Mal Ram Richpal Temple in the Kabarri Bazaar, are both currently used to house Kashmiri refugees.

Mohan Temple in the Lunda Bazaar remains standing, but is abandoned and the building no longer used for any purpose. The city's Shamshan Ghat serves as the city's cremation grounds, and was partly renovated in 2012.

The city's Babu Mohallah neighbourhood was once home to a community of Jewish traders that had fled Mashhad, Persia in the 1830s. The community had entirely emigrated to Israel by the 1960s.

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus is a 22.5 km (14.0 mi) bus rapid transit service that connects Rawalpindi to Islamabad. The Metrobus network was opened on 4 June 2015, and connects the Pak Secretariat in Islamabad to Saddar in Rawalpindi.

A second stage is currently under construction from Peshawar Morr Interchange to the New Islamabad International Airport. The system uses e-ticketing and Intelligent Transportation System wand and is managed by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority.

Rawalpindi is situated along the historic Grand Trunk Road that connects Peshawar to Islamabad and Lahore. The road is roughly paralleled by the M-1 Motorway between Peshawar and Rawalpindi, while the M-2 Motorway provides an alternate route to Lahore via the Salt Range.

The Grand Trunk Road also provides access to the Afghan border via the Khyber Pass, with onwards connections to Kabul and Central Asia via the Salang Pass.

The Karakoram Highway provides access between Islamabad and western China, and an alternate route to Central Asia via Kashgar in the Chinese region of Xinjiang.

The Islamabad Expressway connects Rawalpindi's eastern portions with the Rawal Lake and heart of Islamabad. The IJP Road separates Rawalpindi's northern edge from Islamabad.

Rawalpindi is connected to Peshawar by the M-1 Motorway. The motorway also links Rawalpindi to major cities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, such as Charsadda and Mardan. The M-2 motorway offers high speed access to Lahore via the Potohar Plateau and Salt Range.

The M-3 Motorway branches off from the M-2 at the city of Pindi Bhattian, where the M-3 offers onward connections to Faisalabad, and connects to the M-4 Motorway which continues onward to Multan.

A new motorway network is under construction to connect Multan and Karachi as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The Hazara Motorway is also under construction as part of CPEC, and will provide control-access motorway travel all the way to Mansehra via the M-1 or Grand Trunk Road.

Rawalpindi railway station in the Saddar neighbourhood serves as a stop along Pakistan's 1,687 kilometres (1,048 mi)-long Main Line-1 railway that connects the city to the port city of Karachi to Peshawar.

The stations is served by the Awam Express, Hazara Express, Islamabad Express, Jaffar Express, Khyber Mail trains, and serves as the terminus for the Margalla Express, Mehr Express, Rawal Express, Pakistan Express, Subak Raftar Express, Subak Kharam Express, and Tezgam trains.

The entire Main Line-1 railway track between Karachi and Peshawar is to be overhauled at a cost of $3.65 billion for the first phase of the project, with completion by 2021.

Upgrading of the railway line will permit train travel at speeds of 160 kilometres per hour, versus the average 60 to 105 km per hour speed currently possible on existing track.

Rawalpindi is served by the Islamabad International Airport. The airport is located in Fateh Jang, Attock. It offers non-stop flights throughout Pakistan, as well as to the Middle East, Europe, North America, Cenral Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.

The City-District of Rawalpindi is sub-divided into one Municipal Corporation Two Cantonment Board and Seven tehsils:

- Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi City

- Rawalpindi Cantonment Board Rawalpindi Cantt.

- Chaklala Cantonment Board Chaklala Cantt.

Rawalpindi also holds many private colonies that have developed themselves rapidly, e.g. Gulraiz Housing Society, Korang Town, Agochs Town, Ghori Town, Pakistan Town, Judicial Town, Bahria Town which is the Asia's largest private colony, Kashmir Housing Society, Danial Town, Al-Haram City, Education City.

Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Jhelum Road. It covers an area of about 2,300 acres (930 ha) and has a playland, lake with boating facility, an aquarium and a garden-restaurant. Rawalpindi Public Park is on Benazir Bhutto Road near Shamsabad.

The Park was opened to the public in 1991. It has a playland for children, grassy lawns, fountains and flower beds.

In 2008 Jinnah Park was inaugurated at the heart of Rawalpindi and has since become a hotspot of activity for the city. People from as far out as Peshawer come to Jinnah Park to enjoy its modern facilities.

It houses a state-of-the-art cinema, Cinepax, a Metro Cash and Carry supermart, an outlet of McDonald's, gaming lounges, Motion Rides and other recreational facilities. The vast lawns also provide an adequate picnic spot.

Rawalpindi is situated near the Ayub National Park formerly known as Topi Rakh or keep the hat on, is by the old Presidency, between the Murree Brewery Co. and Grand Trunk Road.

It covers an area of about 2,300 acres (930 ha) and has a play area, lake with boating facility, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and an open-air theater. This park hosts The Jungle Kingdom which is particularly popular among young residents.

Liaquat Bagh, formerly known as the company bagh (East India Company's Garden), is of great historical interest. The first prime minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, was assassinated here in 1950.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Banazir Bhutto was assassinated here on 27 December 2007. She was the youngest and the only women to be elected as prime minister of Pakistan.

Rawalpindi Public Park also known as Nawaz Sharif Par) is located on Murree Road. The park was opened in 1991. It has a play area for children, lawns, fountains and flower beds. A cricket stadium was built in 1992 opposite the public park. The 1996 World Cup matches were held on this cricket ground.

In mid-2012 3D cinema, The Arena, started its operations in Bahria Town Phase-4 in Rawalpindi.

Rawalpindi Golf Course was completed in 1926 by Rawalpindi Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs of Pakistan. The facility was initially developed as a nine-hole course. After several phases of development, it is now a 27-hole course and the biggest in Pakistan.

From the clubhouse, there is a panoramic view of Faisal Mosque, the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Major domestic golf tournaments are regularly held here.

Playland is another public park parallel to Ayub Park

Islamabad International Airport is located within the city of Rawalpindi. Daily flights to and from various international and local destinations are available. A new airport to the west of the city is under construction but several years from completion.

Rawalpindi has its own central railway station, with regular sevices to many destinations within Pakistan.

Rawalpindi has extensive road networks, linking it directly to various major cities such as Lahore, Peshawar and Taxila to the north. Apart from that the twin city, which Rawalpindi is otherwise called, has a complete structure of traveling around in the city through local buses.

However, this is not a recommended mode of transport to tourists. Taxis are cheap, and you'll be looking at around Rs600 or so for a trip from Ghakar Plaza to the outer sectors of Islamabad, so travel within Rawalpindi will be around Rs200 per trip.

This is very affordable for a foreign tourist. Make sure you agree the price before getting into the taxi.

Skyways and Daewoo are 2 of the nicer long-haul operators. Skyways offer some direct services to/from Islamabad and Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi. Daewoo has its own terminal on the road from Islamabad just outside Rawalpindi. You can call the Daewoo Station in advance for booking.

You can travel to Peshawar, Lahore, D I Khan, Murree, Sialkot, Abottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Multan, and recently they have started service between Karachi and Hyderabad.

Coach is a very comfortable way to travel in Pakistan, and is very popular for travellers between Rawalpindi and Lahore. You will receive a small meal on the coach, and a first class ticket is between Rs1000-Rs3000.

Rawalpindi is a large sprawling city, however the centre that is focused on Raja Bazaar is walkable but easy to get lost, so a GPS or compass isn't a bad idea. There are many auto shops for repairing vehicles of tourists.

To travel eg. Raja Bazaar to Saddar its best to jump into a tuk-tuk. Buses are an option for going up or down Murree Road, but working out how to get a bus to more far flung parts will require some Urdu. A trip to Bahria Town is best done in your own car or a taxi, armed with a map.

Rawalpindi is not blessed with an extensive architectural history. However the city is an interesting place to wander, especially if you are based in Islamabad and are looking for some hustle and bustle.

- Ayub Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Grand Trunk (G.T.) Road. It covers an area of about 2,300 acres and has a play area, lake with boating facility, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and an open air theater. It also hosts The Jungle Kingdom, which is an animal themed park and zoological garden.

- Nawaz Sharif Park is located on Murree Road near Shamsabad. The Park was opened in 1991. It has a play area for children, lawns, fountains and flower beds. A cricket stadium was built in 1992 opposite the Public Park. The 1996 World Cup cricket matches were held on this cricket ground.

- Jinnah Park is located near Kachehri Chowk.Mcdonalds,Pappasalis,Cinepax and COSMO Cash and Carry are built inside this park

- Eidgah Sharif

- Shah Chun Charagh

- Army Museum at the end of Murree road, being refurbished. The Army Museum was established in 1961 to collect and display material, relating to the Pakistan Army and the British Indian Army.

There are various things you can do in Rawalpindi. A few of them are:

Plan a trip to Raja Bazar, Bara Bazar and Murree Road. Although the traffic gets horrible at times, but you will find such amazing stuff at amazing prices that you'll forget the pain. Be careful in Raja Bazar in particular - it is not recommended for lone female travellers.

Go to Ayub Park, have a pleasant walk around, it will give you hours of walk in green meadows without having to worry about anything else. If you take the family along, you can eat snacks and even take you own for added fun.

Head to Bahria Town to the south of Pindi - this new-build suburb offers a mini golf course, karting track, a luxury spa, and a strange copy of Trafalgar Sqaure in Safari III.

Plan a visit to Rawat Fort 15 kms away off the Grand Truck Rd

Jinnah Park A park located on the Jail Road and houses a McDonald's franchisee and Cinepax exhibition centre. It also has a dedicated play area, lawns, fountains, flower beds and a jogging track stretched across the boundary wall.

The park contains many good restaurants such as McDonald's papa salis and Diva restaurant. There are few cricket pitches and big COSMO cash and carry store.

Cinepax, next to Jinnah Park. Modern western style cinema complex showing a range of south Asian and Hollywood films.

Taxila tourist train, Rawalpindi train station. On the first Sunday of each month a tourist train possibly steam makes its way from Pindi to Taxila, stopping at Golra Sharif station where there is a small museum.

From Taxila a coach can take you to Khanpur dam - or you can check out the Taxila museum and ruins. The train leaves Pindi around 9am, returning in late afternoon. Rs 1,200.

Mashaa allah girls college, cungi no.20 adyala road rawalpindi, kecheri to jail. government of punjab registered and pindi board affiliated educational institute

Saddar Bazar is the most versatile, modern and easily approachable market place of Rawalpindi. Its connected to Mall Road on one side, city to the other, and railway station on the 3rd side. Saddar Bazar has certain good looking plazas, banks, fun houses for children and has a few recreational parks for children and elderly

Gakkahr Plaza is one of the most renowned shopping markets in Saddar Rawalpindi. You can buy leather jackets, trousers, all sorts of garments, kameez salwar, khussas, sandals and all gents garments from Gakharr Plaza.

Unfortunately, on 20 December 2008, Gakhar Plaza was completely gutted down by a huge fire.

Close to Gakhhar plaza, you will find Jabbar Tailors which is one of the oldest tailors in Rawalpindi. Mostly busy with military uniform stitching.

Metro Shoes. A well known shoe shop.

Computer and Mobil Phone: Plazas at 6th Road, and Sadar are the major markets, where one can find many computer items and other electronic items.

College Road near Liaqat Bagh sells electronic components for electronic enthusiates.

Most economical market in Rawalpindi is Raja Bazaar where you can find most of the things at very economical rates.

Sheikhs Mall, Adam Jee Road Saddar Rawalpindi,KFC Basement Saddar. Sheikhs Mall is one of the largest shopping malls of the twin city.

It deals in All Imported Garments- Imported From Hongkong,Thailand,Italy,France,UK,imported and stylish jewelry, men's branded suiting, branded shoes, children's branded suitings, complete range of ladie's western dresses, party wear and under garments.

Midway Centrum Shopping Mall, 6th Road & Murree Road. until 8pm. If you are looking for a multifloor shopping mall, with escalators, shiny floors and lots of shops this is a good option, especially in the Summer, when the bazaars are baking hot.

Lots of clothing shops covering male and female fashions, and a good option if you are looking for a comparatively relaxed shopping experience.

A visit to Rawalpindi makes a pleasant change from Islamabad's restaurant scene. As you might expect Pindi offers some excellent places for top-notch Pakistani food, and offers better value than you find in Islamabad.

You'll almost certainly be the only non-Pakistani customer, and you can expect the staff to go out of their way to be hospitable.

Fortress Street, Next to Rawalpindi cricket ground, off Stadium road, until late. A good collection of Pakistani restaurants popular with families and couples - including a nice outdoor grill serving sheesha around low tables (Shahinshah).

Plenty of parking and feels secure - and very little traffic. cheap.

Namak Mandi, 2nd Flr, Zarkoon Plaza, Saddar area (just off main Murree Road before junction with GT road), ☎ 051-5522167. lunch until late. Excellent upscale Pakistani / Afghan restaurant. Dual western seating / lounging on cushions setup. Air conditioned also makes for a good choice in summer. The fact it is always busy is testament to the great food, atmosphere and service. Meal around Rs600.

Mei Kong, 32 Haider Rod, Saddar area. Western quality Chinese restaurant set away from the main road. Extensive menu covering all the Chinese bases. Seafood is a bit of a specialty, the honey prawns being particularly good and even lobster is available.

Perhaps Pindi's nicest restaurant. Note that the portions are all designed for 2 people to share, so ask for half portions as necessary. Around Rs600 per person for a decent meal.

Cafe dine light, Rawal Plaza, Commercial Market Road, look for a plastic camel. 7-11pm. Sheesha bar cum restaurant - popular with Pindi's young and rich - a possible place to order a steak or a burger, but better to head here after eating for some ice cream, sheesha and people watching.

Separate area for mixed groups. There are some other smokey sheesha places in the same building if you want a puff after 11pm.

Rahat bakers & pizzeria, between Bank Road & Haider Road, Saddar. very popular bakers and Pindi's best place for pizza (Rs.650). Outdoor eating area.

Mini golf club restaurant -Sizzle'n'spice, Bahria Town Phase IV, until late. Memorable setting on the terrace of the minigolf course, with a small lake, flamingos, and Greek statues. Good selection of Pakistani food (BBQ and curries mainly). Popular with Pindi's middle classes. About Rs700 per person for a good sized meal.

Texas Steak House, (Ground Flr, Zarkoon Plaza, Saddar). lunch & dinner. Pindi isn't the place to go for a good steak - but if you are looking for one then this uncomplicated family restaurant is probably your only choice. Serves a range of western food, including sizzling hot-plate style steaks.

Asian Palace, Midway Centrum shopping mall, 6th Road & Murree. Set in the middle of Pindi's only western style shopping centre this family friendly place is not a bad choice for a quick lunch or ice cream.

Savour Foods, Gordon College Road
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Kala Khan Nehari House, Kartarpura, Near Banni Chowk. Kala Khan Nehari House is the oldest and authentic Nehari breakfast and brunch restaurant in Rawalpindi serving delicious and traditional breakfast for over more than 3 decades.

Kala Khan Nehari House is located at Kartarpura, near Banni Chowk, the heart of Rawalpindi city. The Kartarpura has significant importance as being cultural/traditional hub of the city.

The shop is also at just about 8 Km distance from the capital city, Islamabad that makes it a good meeting point for the twin city.

House Metro, Empire Heights II, Crescent Mall II, Bahria Town Rawalpindi. 1PM -2 :30 AM. Based on Retro theme from the 70’s House Retro provides a blend of colorful and artistic ambiance that brings back the memories of yester years for many who have a tooth for exotic food, aesthetics for lively environment and zest for family entertainment.

If you think you have any of the above palates, then this is one celebrated place for you and your family.

Be it tasteful variety of food at Retro Cafe, a game of Pool or Snooker, Gaming Zone fun for youngsters or a Movie of your choice in a personalized E-theater’s comfortable environment, House Retro offers complete entertainment with ultimate vibrancy and joy.

In Pakistan there is a big fascination with these large fast-food chains, particularly Pizza Hut, McDonalds, KFC, and Subway. As a tourist, it is recommended to try the local food, as these fast food chains do not live up to their hype, and are in ways cleaner establishments than local restaurants.

They are also quite overpriced, with combo meals costing around Rs 300, whilst this is still a mere £2.50 or $5. Very competitive with any branch of these restaurants found in the Western world, it compares poorly with the Rs 7 (6p or 11 cents) you could expect to pay for a naan bread at the local market.

The first McDonalds opened in Rawalpindi at Jinnah Park. It is huge with a lot of parking spaces and it is open late. KFC is the best place for getting international-style fast food, and it is situated just in the cantonment area of the city and also has a big parking area.

Eating in these chains is more of a statement of status in Pakistan than anything else, and you will notice that there is usually quite a fashion parade in many of these establishments!

In Rawalpindi, do as the Pindites do! Grab a bag of the most yummy and juicy local sweet called jalebee from Gratto on Murree road, or the luxuriously garnished icecream from Chaman at Saddar, or the famous samosas from Karim hotel, or fresh from the pan halwa poori from Satelitown, or rabri, milky drink from nirala in Saddar .Its a never-ending list!

Alcohol in Pakistan is forbidden but one can find drinks at many modern hotels like Pearl Continental(PC), Shalimar Hotel and Flashman Hotel.

There are no bars and night clubs in Rawalpindi, but all the big markets are open late. Drinking culture in Pakistan is essentially soft-drink culture, where Pepsi is traditionally the drink of choice. It is impossible to avoid Pepsi advertising throughout Pakistan.

Be warned as a traveller about the cleanliness of bottles - always drink from a straw, and always request that bottles be opened in front of you, as a cleanliness measure. Drinking culture also revolves around tea, called chai in Urdu, and this is available everywhere and anywhere.

Coffee is not impossible to come by, however iced coffee tends to be the popular coffee drink of choice.

The locally available drinks are:

- Sharbat of Imli and Alu Bukhara, Plums.

- Shakar Kola, drink made from brown sugar.

- Sugar Cane Juice.

- Lemonade.

Do not drink from places with flies.

Rawalpindi has one hotel 5 star hotel. It is called Pearl Continental or more famously known by its acronym PC. Other that this one can go to Hotel Shalimar, Flashman, de mall.

Rawalpindi is not necessarily as safe as it's sister, Islamabad. Islamabad has higher foreign tourist traffic, and thus has become accustomed to it, however foreign tourists are somewhat rare in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan on the whole is not recommended to lone young female travellers, however Pindi is relatively safe for larger groups of females, or mixed gender paired-travellers. For female travellers, it is highly recommended to purchase a shawl upon arrival in Pakistan, even better to bring one over on your flight, for airport arrival purposes.

It is not necessary or expected for you to wear this on your head at all times, however to avoid unwanted attention, and gain local respect, cover your chest with this shawl, i.e. drape it across your neck.

Also attempt to purchase/wear a long shirt/top, that covers your backside region - this again, will draw away unwanted attention.

Avoid flashing large amounts of cash around - Rs 1000 notes are commonplace, however the haggling process is often easier when you show the limited cash you have, e.g. I only have Rs 200 on me.

Keep your larger notes on the inside, and only allow small notes to be seen, for example, when paying taxi drivers, purchasing items, etc.

Do not feel compelled to give money to all beggars, not matter how young or needy. Of course exercise discretion, and it not unacceptable to give them money, however, the beggars are regulars in Pindi, and have their regular locations, and are known to beg in the same place, everyday - with a new outfit each day.

If you have more time on your hands, go to Murree. Murree is one of the hottest attractions, attraction wise, temparture wise its very cold where you can spend even weeks if you'd like to; every day is a new day.

Archeology lovers can visit the ruins of Taxila, 28 km from Rawalpindi. Taxila houses many ruins of Buddhism; most important is that of Julian University. A beautiful museum holds the artifacts of that time. Taxila also offers many beautiful stone utensils.

- Taxila Ruins

- Rawat Fort

- Stupa in Mankiala


Tourism Observer

UAE: Emirates A380 One-off Flight Lands In Islamabad

Emirates’ special one-off A380 Dubai-Islamabad flight takes off from Dubai on Sunday morning with celebrities, officials and journalists on board.

The airline’s iconic double-decker will make its inaugural arrival in Islamabad on a special flight EK2524/EK2525. It will be the first time that an A380 lands in Pakistan.

Emirates’ special one-off A380 flight landed in Islamabad on Sunday with celebrities, officials, diplomats and journalists on board.

Arrival of the airline’s iconic double-decker special flight EK2524/EK2525 to Islamabad also made history in Pakistan’s aviation as it was the first A380 ever landed in Pakistan.

The special flight, was joined by a VIP delegation led by Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Centre and Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, GMEI (Gulf, Middle East and Iran).

They were joined by His Excellency Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi, the UAE Ambassador to Pakistan and His Excellency Moazzam Ahmad Khan, Pakistan Ambassador to the UAE.

Also travelling on the flight as special guests were two Pakistani members of Emirates’ first ever team, Captain Fazle Ghani, the airline’s first Chief Pilot and Team Lead for Inaugural Operations and Captain Ejaz ul Haq, one of the pilots who operated the first ever Emirates flights from Dubai 33 years ago.

Two Emirates alumni pilots including Captain Ejazul Haq and Captain Fazle Ghani who operated the first ever Emirates flight from Dubai to Karachi on October 35, 1985 were also amongst the guests on board. Captain Ejazul Haq had operated the second Emirates flight from Dubai to Mumbai on the same day.

Though it was the one-off A380 flight between Dubai and Islamabad, the airline wants to make it a regular daily flight in future.

This is our special flight but we want to operate regular daily flight on A380 from Dubai to the new Islamabad airport which is fully equipped to receive the big aircraft, said Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre, Emirates.

Speaking on board the A380, he said that negotiations with the authorities concerned in the Pakistan have already started in this regard. We are very hopeful that passengers on this sector would soon enjoy regular A380flights.

We came here to showcase our innovative products and will continue to work with authorities to realise our plans to increase capacity to all routes to Pakistan, he added.

The special A380 flight depart Dubai 8.15 am to arrive to arrive at the new plush Islamabad airport at 12.20 pm. The flight departed Islamabad at 1540hrs arriving in Dubai at 1745hrs on the same day.

Hamad Al Zaabi, UAE’s Ambassador to Pakistan who was also on board. It is a historical day for UAE and Pakistan. We operated the first flight to Pakistan and now brought the first A380 – the world’s largest aircraft – to Pakistan.

It reflects that we are building on our relations. We want to make it a daily flight and we are working on it.

Moazzam Ahmed Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, who was amongst the special guests on board, said: It is a new chapter in the Pakistan-UAE relations.

Landing of the super jumbo in Pakistan would send positive message to business community and investors around the world that Pakistan is growing market.

He said that government of Pakistan is in discussion with the UAE authorities to finalise agreement to allow Emirates to operate A380 to Pakistan.

It is a win-win situation for both the countries. Emirates is very important to us as thousands of Pakistanis not only from UAE but from around the world use it to travel to and from Pakistan.

Speaking at the reception at Islamabad airport, Pakistan’s Aviation Minister General (retired) Naeem Khaled Lodhi said that it was a great day for Pakistan’s aviation history. “Now we have the airport which can receive all kind of aircraft and we will ask other countries as well to start flights to Islamabad.”

Regarding allowing Emirates’ A380 flights to Pakistan, he said that they were working on the plans keeping in interests of their national airlines. “We hope to reach the agreement soon,” he said.

Captian Fazle Ghani, 86, who operated the Emirates’ first flight to from Dubai to Karachi and Captain Ejazul Haq who operated the Emirates first flight from Dubai to Mumbai were especially honoured at the reception.

I am greatly honoured by the Emriates for remembering me, said Captain Ghani. He said he so proud to have the honour of operating Emirates’ first flight.

Captain Ejazul Haq who now lives in Islamabad said that he had served Emirates airline from 1987 to 2011. Emirates is always ahead of other airlines in future planning and adopting technology and equipment. I feel very proud to have worked for such a great airline, he said.

The Emirates A380 aircraft on this special one-off service is in a two-class configuration offering spacious seats in Economy Class and fully flat-bed seats in Business Class as well as Emirates’ popular Onboard Lounge.

Passengers in all classes enjoy free Wi-Fi to stay in touch with family and friends and Emirates’ multi-award winning ice inflight entertainment with up to 3,500 channels of movies, TV programmes, music and podcasts on the industry’s biggest personal screens in each class of travel.

Emirates and Pakistan have a shared history tracing back over 30 years when the airline’s flight landed in Karachi on 25 October 1985.

In the last three decades, Emirates has progressively expanded its operations and offering global connectivity and world-class services to Pakistan’s major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Sialkot and Multan.

Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme, offers its more than 400,000 Pakistani members’ exclusive privileges, including earning Skywards Miles when they fly on Emirates or partner airlines, or when they use the programme’s designated hotels, car rentals, financial, leisure and lifestyle partners.

Emirates currently has 104 A380s in service and 58 pending delivery, more than any airline globally. The airline also recently announced a US$ 16 billion (AED 58.7 billion) deal for 36 additional Airbus A380 aircraft.

There are about 400,000 Pakistani travellers who are part of the airline’s loyalty programme, the Emirates Skywards.

Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre of Emirates, presented an Emirates aircraft model to Pakistan's minister and honoured the first Pakistani pilots of Emirates first flight to Pakistan in 1985: Captain Fazle Ghani and Captain Ejazul Haq.

The flight landed smoothly at 12:20pm (Pakistan time), with a round of applause and cheers from passengers. The flight gets a warm welcome at the new Islamabad International Airport as the first A380 plane to land there.

Anoushy Ashraf, a Pakistani social media influencer, said she is loving the "wonderful flight". "I hope this would turn into a regular daily flight," she said.

The A380 flight departs Dubai at 8am to arrive in Islamabad in 3 hours and 10 minutes. The flight will depart Islamabad at 3:40pm, and arrive in Dubai at 5:45pm on the same day.

Although the flight is a one-off, it is fully booked with commercial passengers, except for a small official delegation.

Captain Fazle Ghani, who operated the first Emirates flight to Pakistan in 1985, is on board as a special guest. He is now 86.

Among the guests on board is Captain Ejazul Haq, the second pilot to operate the first Emirates flight from Dubai to Mumbai on October 26, 1985.

Also on board are Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE, Moazzam Ahmed Khan; Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations Centre, and Raza Jafar, a prominent Pakistani businessman.

The airline said it wants to make this flight a regular daily service in the future.

“We are proud to bring our flagship A380 aircraft to Islamabad, and we look forward to showcasing our innovative products on-board this iconic aircraft with the signature Emirates service. While this is a special flight, we are very keen to launch a scheduled A380 service to Pakistan and will continue to work with authorities to realise these plans,” said Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre of Emirates.

Shaikh Majid presents Emirates aircraft model to Pakistani minister

Shaikh Majid then honoured the first Pakistan pilots who operated the first Emirates flight from Dubai to Karachi, Captain Fazle Ghani abd captain Ejazul Haq.

Shaikh Majid then honours the first pakistan pilots who operated the first Emirates flight from Dubai to Karachi, Captain Fazle Ghani abd captain Ejazul Haq.

He says that he is greatly honored today. I am so happy that Emirates remembered me. I still cherish moments of Emirates first flight.

The Emirates A380 aircraft on this special one-off service is in a two-class configuration offering spacious seats in Economy Class and fully flat-bed seats in Business Class as well as Emirates' popular onboard lounge.


Tourism Observer

CHINA: China Southern Airlines Acquires First 787-9, To Start Kunming-Islamabad Flights

China Southern Airlines' first Boeing 787-9 has been delivered to its Guangzhou headquarters, joining a fleet of 10 787-8s.

The aircraft is configured with 28 business and 269 economy class seats, and features on-board connectivity that will be available to all passengers.

The airline says that it will operate the aircraft on long-haul routes.

All of the SkyTeam carrier’s 787s are powered by General Electric GEnx-1B engines.

China Southern has a further 19 787-9s on order, which are coming from a mix of direct orders and via lessors AerCap and Air Lease.

Deliveries of those jets are scheduled out to 2020.

Meanwhile, China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd will be starting flights between Kunming and Islamabad from mid of this year.

This was underlined in a meeting of the Airline’s Executives with Pakistan’s Consul General to Chengdu, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu.

The delegation of the airlines Tuesday met the CG in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, and included Hu Yaohui, Director International Marketing, Ma Yun Deputy Manager and airline’s staff.

China Southern Airlines operates the largest fleet, most developed route network and largest passenger capacity of any airline in China.

The Airline fleet is ranked the first in Asia and the fourth in the world.

It operates more than 2000 daily flights to 224 destinations in 40 countries and regions across the world.

Hu Yaohui in the meeting underscored that, given the depth and breadth of China-Pakistan relations, Pakistan’s strategic location, it’s tourism potential, as well as Pakistan’s economic growth the China Southern had been planning to start three-day-a-week flights from June this year.

The flight will fly on Guangzhou-Kunming-Islamabad route.

The Kunming-Islamabad route’s flight time will be nearly four hour while the return flight will take five hours’.

He added that with commencement of this flight trade, economic, commercial, and tourism ties will expand between China and Pakistan and the broader region.

He hoped that passengers would be able to transit from Islamabad to other Middle Eastern countries via this flight.

The China Southern has approached the Chinese government to authorize start of the flight, the Director maintained.

The Consul General, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu welcomed the start of the flight and emphasized that it was a clear demonstration that Pakistan’s relations with China were vigorously expanding in a host of areas.

The CG hoped that as a consequence of CPEC and OBOR initiatives, as well as Pakistan’s growth trajectory, wider economic and commercial opportunities will be generated necessitating enhanced connectivity between Pakistan and the western China.

The CG underlined that in recent years Pakistan’s tourism industry was significantly flourishing and direct flights will provide impetus to both Pakistan and China’s tourism potential.

The CG offered full co-operation and support to the Airlines for smooth operations of the flight and hoped that Airlines will continue to deepen and expand its relations with Pakistan in future.


Tourism Observer

SWITZERLAND: Air China To Commence Zurich, Astana Flights From Beijing

On April 27, Air China held a press conference in Beijing to announce the launch of two new routes between Beijing and Astana and Beijing and Zurich. Due to be launched in June, these new routes will provide direct connections between China, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland.

The Beijing-Astana route will be launched on 1 June. Located in Kazakhstan, Astana is one of the world’s youngest capitals. It enjoys a reputation as one of the happiest and most modern cities in Central Asia. The launch of Air China’s Beijing-Astana route coincides with the 2017 World Expo, which will be held in Astana in June. The event is expected to attract visitors from all over the world.

China has a long history of friendly relations with Kazakhstan. Contact between the two nations dates back to the Western Han dynasty when the Chinese diplomat Zhang Qian visited the region.

In addition to being China’s second largest trading partner in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Kazakhstan is also one of the most important countries in the Silk Road Economic Belt region.

The Beijing-Astana route will provide a new direct connection between China and Kazakhstan and facilitate energy, transportation, tourism, culture, and trade cooperation between the two countries.

The Beijing-Zurich route will be launched on 7 June. Home to the global and European headquarters of over 100 banks, Zurich is surrounded by the famous Lake Zurich and the Alps, making it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.

The city’s chic, laid-back character and the beautiful surroundings make it one of the world’s most livable cities. In recent years, China and Switzerland have held numerous high-level exchanges, and bilateral trade relations have gone from strength to strength.

During a state visit to Switzerland by President Xi Jinping in January this year, both countries agreed to cooperate on a number of issues to promote the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, including infrastructure construction, finance, insurance, and industry.

The two countries also agreed to launch the 2017 “Sino-Swiss Year of Tourism” to boost tourist numbers. In addition to the new Beijing-Zurich route, Air China also flies from Beijing to Geneva, providing passengers with a choice of convenient, direct connections between China and Switzerland.

At the recent press conference, Air China’s Vice President Ma Chongxian explained the company’s growth strategy: In recent years, Air China has been expanding its route network to meet passengers’ needs. Operating from our three hubs in Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai, we plan to improve connections to a number of destinations in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

China’s OBOR initiative has also created new opportunities for us to expand our international route network. In 2015, Air China launched several routes between Beijing and key cities in the OBOR region, including Minsk, Budapest, Warsaw, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Colombo, and Islamabad.

As China’s only national flag carrier, Air China is committed to corporate social responsibility and plays an important role in facilitating the implementation of key national strategies, such as the OBOR initiative and the “Going Global Strategy”, which encourages Chinese enterprises to invest overseas.

Beijing-Astana: Flight no. CA791/2, three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday), Airbus A320. The outbound flight departs Beijing at 17:20 and arrives at 21:00; the inbound flight departs Astana at 22:30 and arrives at 05:30 (all times are local).

Beijing-Zurich: Flight no. CA781/2, four times weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday). The outbound flight departs Beijing at 02:35 and arrives at 07:25; the inbound flight departs Zurich at 12:55 and arrives at 05:05 (all times are local).

The flights will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 featuring business class seats that can be fully reclined up to 180 degrees. Premium economy seats offer 120% more leg room than regular economy class, and economy class seats are ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue.

All seats feature a personal entertainment system.

PAKISTAN: Pakistan International Airlines Blamed Engine Failure For Plane Crash

Flight had 48 on board, including famous pop-singer-turned-Islamic preacher Junaid Jamshed and his wife
Pakistan International Airlines today blamed engine failure for the horrific plane crash which claimed 48 lives, even as the country's top civil aviation body launched a probe into the tragic accident.

The PIA plane PK-661 with 48 people, including famous pop singer-turned-Islamic preacher Junaid Jamshed, his wife and Deputy Commissioner Chitral Osama Warraich, on board crashed yesterday in Saddha Batolni village near Havelian while en route to Islamabad from Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The aircraft had issued a Mayday or a distress call before losing radar contact and crashing into a mountain.

According to the airline, the plane was an ATR-42 turboprop aircraft, which lost contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Islamabad's Benazir International Airport en route from Chitral.

PIA Chairman Azam Saigol blamed engine failure for the deadly crash.

"Around 4.15 pm the ATC received an emergency call from the pilot who informed them about the engine failure. A few minutes later, a mayday distress call was received from the pilot," Mr Saigol told reporters.

The ATR-42 aircraft involved in the crash had undergone regular maintenance, including an 'A-check' certification in October, Mr Saigol said.

"I want to make it clear that it was a perfectly sound aircraft," Mr Saigol said, ruling out technical or human error. Pakistan authorities were conducting DNA testing to identify the victims of plane crash as most of the dead bodies were charred beyond recognition.

According to rescue official Ghayoor Mushtaq, all bodies had been retrieved by 02.00 am this morning and shifted to Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad.

A military official said three helicopters have been deputed to transport the bodies to Islamabad. They will be then moved to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad and Combined Military Hospital in neighbouring Rawalpindi.

Dr Junaid of Ayub Medical Complex said only six bodies were recognised while others will be identified through DNA matching.

Mr Jamshed, two Austrians, and a Chinese national were on the ill-fated PIA flight.

The pilot of the ill-fated ATR-42 made his first call to the air traffic control soon after the flight took off. He said the plane's left engine was not functioning and moments later followed with a panicked, 'Mayday! Mayday'.

Minutes before the plane crashed at 4.15 pm, the pilot made the emergency call requesting permission for an emergency landing.

The plane vanished from the radar screen and soon after and the communication system stopped. Aviation Division Secretary Irfan Elahi said the Civil Aviation Authority's investigation board, headed by Air Commodore Munir, would lead the inquiry into the cause of the deadly crash.

"We hope the black box will be found soon which can help investigators. At the moment, there is no other reason for the plane crash other than the failure of the left engine," he said.

SAUDI ARABIA: Flynas Celebrates New Service Connecting Riyadh And Abu Dhabi

Launch of the five-times-per-week service between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi further strengthens flynas’ codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways

Riyadh, 16 December, 2015: Marking an important milestone in its planned growth strategy, the Saudi Arabian national carrier flynas today inaugurated its new service connecting Riyadh and Abu Dhabi with non-stop flights operating five days per week.

Highlighting flynas’ success in strategically expanding its footprint in key markets across the region, the launch of the new service makes Abu Dhabi the fourth destination to be added to the airline’s GCC network after Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain and expands the leading low-cost carrier’s reach to a total of 26 destinations within and outside of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Commenting on the launch of the new service, Bander Al Mohanna, NAS Holding CEO, said: “We are delighted to touch down in Abu Dhabi with the launch of this new five-times-per-week service that connects the two capitals while offering convenient and affordable air travel options to guests traveling in both directions.

Adding Abu Dhabi to our GCC route network is an important strategic step for flynas due to multiple reasons, including our codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways as well as the long-standing friendship and the strong bilateral business and economic ties shared by the two nations. Moreover, Abu Dhabi’s growing prominence as both a leading family-friendly tourism destination and a strategic business hub makes the opening of the new route a highly attractive proposition for Saudi travelers.”

“The service also takes our codeshare partnership with Etihad Airways to a whole new level, creating further opportunity for growth as we soar into the future with a renewed business strategy to continue expanding our reach into new markets with sheer confidence and optimism,” Bander Al Mohanna added.

Offering many benefits to flynas guests traveling from KSA, the new service strengthens flynas’ codeshare partnership with the UAE’s national airline Etihad Airways, which allows flynas to place its “XY” flight code on over 200 Etihad Airways’ flights between Abu Dhabi and 20 international destinations, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Casablanca, Geneva, Islamabad, Jakarta, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, London, Manchester, Paris, São Paulo, Seychelles, Singapore, Zurich, and subsequently on flights operating to the Indian subcontinent over the coming months, subject to regulatory approvals.

As part of the agreement, flynas flights can be sold to over 100 destinations around the world. Moreover, Etihad Airways will further promote the new service – providing additional value to flynas’ network throughout KSA.

“Our codeshare agreement with flynas was initiated over three years ago, and the partnership has developed into an outstanding commercial success. Importantly, we are providing the increasing numbers of business and leisure travelers with enhanced travel options into and out of KSA,” said Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways’ Chief Strategy and Planning Officer.

“We are delighted to build on this success by codesharing on flynas’ new flights between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which complements Etihad Airways’ 13 weekly flights between the two cities. We congratulate flynas on the launch of this new service, which will create new value for our companies and increase travel options for our guests,” Kevin Knight added.

Welcoming flynas’ inaugural flight in Abu Dhabi, Eng. Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We are pleased to welcome flynas’ entry into the UAE capital. This new service is in line with our strategy of further developing our airline portfolio while providing passengers with a world-class travel experience whether they are traveling for business or leisure. The opening of this strategic route also successfully complements the collaborative efforts made by Abu Dhabi Airports and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Cultural Authority to further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the leading tourist destinations regionally and internationally. From providing efficient and timely ground handling processes to smooth and easy flow of passengers at the airport, we look forward to fully cooperating with flynas to ensure the success of this new service.”

“The new service has been specifically timed to coincide with the afternoon departure of Etihad Airways’ connecting banks. This provides excellent connections to Etihad Airways’ network eastbound, specifically to Pakistan, India and Far East, increases flynas’ visibility around the world and opens up KSA to a larger number of business and religious travelers,” added Bander Al Mohanna.

In celebration of the occasion, flynas also hosted a gala dinner at Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara, Abu Dhabi, which was attended by senior executives from Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Airports in addition to other government dignitaries and business partners.

The new route will operate every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday – departing Riyadh at 9:35am to land in Abu Dhabi at 12:35pm local time while the return leaves Abu Dhabi at 2:45pm, arriving into Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport at 3:45pm local time.

INDIA: Tourism Website Hacked

The J&K Tourism Department on Monday claimed that its website was hacked few days ago, which led to some of its content getting "destroyed".

"The Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir, has clarified that its website www.jktourism.org was hacked few days ago and some of its contents were destroyed," a spokesperson of the department said.

He said that the investigation into the matter is underway and further necessary safety measures to protect the content are being taken.

The explanation came after a tender notice was posted on the department's website inviting suppliers to deliver laptops and other equipment to Quad-e-Azam University in Pakistan's capital of Islamabad.

PAKISTAN: Pakistan International Airlines Flight Cleared For Take Off In China After Bomb Hoax

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight made an emergency landing at China's Tianjin airport Friday, following a bomb hoax.

After taking off from Beijing, flight PK-852 was en route Tokyo when it made the emergency landing in Tianjin amid a bomb scare, PIA spokesman Danial Gilani told Dawn.com.

The information about the presence of the bomb originated in China, said Gilani. The source of the bomb threat is being probed by Chinese authorities.

At Tianjin, the plane was searched and passengers made to disembark, following which Chinese authorities gave clearance to the plane to take off for Tokyo.

PIA flight 852 had departed from Islamabad Beinjing, from where it was scheduled to reach Tokyo after a brief stopover in China.

UAE: Etihad Signs Codeshare With Pakistan International Airlines

Etihad Airways and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have signed a codeshare agreement between the UAE, Pakistan and beyond.

Etihad will place its EY code on PIA flights between Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Abu Dhabi.

PIA’s PK code will be placed on Etihad flights between Abu Dhabi and Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore and the code will also be added to Etihad’s flights from Abu Dhabi to many of its global destinations.

“There is a long and proud history of travel between Abu Dhabi and cities across Pakistan, and this new codeshare agreement – between the national airlines of the UAE and Pakistan – will make that experience, as well as travel onwards to Africa, Europe, and the United States, that much easier,” said Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways chief strategy and planning officer.