ISLAMABAD, Saturday, June 14, 2025 (WNP): Uzbekistan Airways’ first-ever direct flight from Tashkent to Islamabad was warmly welcomed upon its arrival at Islamabad International Airport on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in enhancing bilateral connectivity between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

The inaugural flight was greeted by a high-level reception, including Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev; Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), Aftab ur Rehman Rana; Islamabad Airport Manager, Syed Aftab Ali Shah Gilani; Country Manager of Uzbekistan Airways, Bakhtiyor Muminov; diplomats from other Central Asian countries; and senior officials from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), PTDC, and Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA).

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Tukhtaev described the launch of the direct flight as a strategic development that would bolster economic, trade, and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

“This direct air link represents a major step forward in the broader Central and South Asia Connectivity Initiatives and reflects our commitment to deepening bilateral relations,” he noted.

PTDC Managing Director Aftab ur Rehman Rana hailed the weekly flight as a long-awaited breakthrough in regional cooperation. “This new air route fulfills a long-standing demand raised at regional platforms such as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to improve connectivity between Central and South Asia,” he said.

Rana emphasized that the flight would enhance cooperation across multiple sectors, including tourism, trade, education, and cultural exchange. “Uzbekistan’s iconic Silk Road cities—Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva—are now more accessible to Pakistani tourists. Likewise, Uzbek travelers can now explore Pakistan’s majestic northern mountains, spiritual heritage, and diverse cultural sites with greater ease,” he added.

He further stated that tourism exchanges between Pakistan and Uzbekistan have witnessed steady growth in recent years, rooted in shared history, religious traditions, and cultural heritage. The new direct flight, he said, offers a convenient, cost-effective, and reliable travel option for tourists, students, and pilgrims alike.

The launch of the Tashkent-Islamabad direct flight is expected to be a game-changer in boosting tourism and trade and fostering deeper regional integration between the two brotherly nations.