KARACHI: Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air has launched regular direct flights between Tashkent and Karachi, opening a new air link between the two countries.
The airline’s first flight from Tashkent arrived at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, at 4:20 a.m. on September 3 aboard an Airbus A320. The aircraft received a ceremonial water-cannon salute upon arrival.
The new service will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays, providing direct connectivity between Uzbekistan’s capital and Pakistan’s largest city and major commercial hub.
The launch ceremony at Karachi Airport was attended by representatives of the Sindh government, local authorities, the Uzbekistan diplomatic mission, the Sindh Tourism Development Corporation, airlines, tour operators and the media. Officials welcomed the new route as an important step toward strengthening tourism, trade and business links between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
The direct connection is expected to make travel easier for tourists, businessmen, investors, students and families, while providing Pakistani travellers with more convenient access to Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asian region.
With the addition of the Karachi route, the number of regular direct flights between Pakistan and Uzbekistan has increased to eight per week. Existing services include connections between Tashkent and Lahore as well as Tashkent and Islamabad.
Centrum Air said the new route will also support stronger business contacts, educational cooperation and tourism exchanges between the two countries.
