Key Takeaways
- Saudi Airlines has opened an office in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- The inauguration was attended by the governor and Saudi ambassador.
- Governor Faisal Karim Kundi called for direct flights from Peshawar to major Saudi cities.
Saudi Airlines has officially opened its office in Peshawar, a significant move aimed at enhancing travel services for passengers from the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The new office is expected to facilitate easier access to Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages as well as work-related travel to Saudi Arabia.
The inauguration ceremony took place on Tuesday and was attended by key figures including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Malkiy. The event also saw the presence of officials from the Saudi embassy, travel agents, and members of the business community.
Governor Kundi emphasized the importance of improved travel services for residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He noted that a large number of people from the province travel to Saudi Arabia annually for pilgrimage or employment purposes. In his address, he urged Saudi Arabia to launch direct flights from Peshawar to Jeddah, Madinah, and Riyadh, highlighting these routes as essential for the region.
The governor also expressed a desire for the establishment of a Saudi consulate in Peshawar, which would simplify visa and consular services. He highlighted Pakistan’s historic and brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that stronger business-to-business contacts could further boost economic cooperation between the two nations.
Ambassador Al-Malkiy visited the Governor’s House prior to the inauguration, where both parties discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest. The governor briefed him on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mineral resources, oil and gas potential, hydropower capabilities, and Peshawar’s historical significance as a cradle of ancient Gandhara civilization.
During his visit, Ambassador Al-Malkiy expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended to him. He underscored Saudi Arabia's longstanding friendship with Pakistan and recorded his remarks in the visitors' book. Governor Kundi presented him with a traditional handcrafted wooden souvenir from Dera Ismail Khan as a token of gratitude.
The new office will provide better travel services to people of the province.
Faisal Karim Kundi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor
Saudi Arabia values its longstanding friendship with Pakistan.
Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Malkiy, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan
