Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi announced on Saturday that a direct flight between Peshawar and Lahore is scheduled to begin on November 9. Kundi stated that the new route will provide air connectivity for residents of the province, specifically those traveling to Lahore for business and other reasons. He noted that the flight would take approximately 50 minutes to one hour, which is shorter than the time required to travel by road.
The Governor mentioned that a direct flight from Peshawar to Quetta has already been launched. He stated that efforts are currently underway to establish further air links with other parts of the province, including proposed connectivity to Dera Ismail Khan, Chitral, and Parachinar. Kundi said these initiatives are intended to improve connectivity across the province and develop Peshawar into a modern city.
During a ceremony in Peshawar, Kundi also addressed the provincial government's efforts to improve the healthcare sector. He said the government has been taking steps to provide facilities to hospitals and doctors to establish a strong healthcare institution, stating that the public would soon notice improvements.
Regarding security, Kundi acknowledged that the province faces challenges including terrorism and issues arising from terrorist incidents. He reported that a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) officer was killed in Peshawar the previous day. He stated that police are investigating the incident and no one involved would be spared. Kundi added that work is underway to protect polio workers and eradicate polio, noting that intelligence-based operations are being conducted against terrorists. He clarified that while efforts to eliminate terrorism would continue until the last drop of blood, a full-fledged operation was not being conducted against terrorists.
Reflecting on the provincial government's performance, Kundi said the 13 years of what he described as mismanagement under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could not be undone in 13 days. He confirmed that anti-encroachment operations would continue. Following the widening of roads, Kundi said operations would be carried out in markets, and separate spaces would be allocated for street vendors. He added that if anyone was treated unfairly during the anti-encroachment operation, they would be compensated.
