Air travel becomes pipe dream for residents of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir

Air travel has become a distant dream for people residing in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir due to inflated flight fares, reported the country’s mass media.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the country’s major carrier, has raised the price of flight tickets from Islamabad to Skardu to Rs 39,700 and to Gilgit to Rs 29,200. According to Daily K2, such a high fare would have an impact on tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The spike in travel fares coincides with worsening socio-economic conditions, with even the middle and salaried classes finding it more and more challenging to make their ends meet.

The Pakistani rupee continues to fall against the US dollar, according to the Daily Pakistan.
Furthermore, any political conflicts or tensions among political groups will only add to the suffering and obstacles that people face on an everyday basis.

Political crisis in Pakistan after raids on PTI leaders

In the midst of such a grave situation, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) wants elections in Punjab. On the contrary, the PDM government wants elections after finishing its term, and the PDM wants polls on a single day in the country, which defines the country’s political turmoil, according to Ibrat.

A large detachment of Punjab Police invaded Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi’s apartment on Friday night to detain him, sparking severe condemnation from the party, which has been vocal over the arrests of its activists and leaders.

The raid comes only hours after the PTI and the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government had discussions on election dates, with the former demanding for an end to the arrests of their workers and warning that the talks would be jeopardized if the law enforcement measures did not stop, according to the Geo News.

Though the PTI already has made announcements about protesting on the roads, even if this declaration, like its recent others, turns out to be an insignificant threat, the PTI will have certain challenges with the government.

The only means of getting out of the current standoff between the government and the PTI is a pact or reconciliation, which is only attainable if both parties agree to talks, said the Daily Pakistan.

Skilled professionals leavening amid worsening economic situation in Pakistan

In the midst of this upheaval, one million Pakistanis deserted the country in a single year. According to Jasarat, the overall number of Pakistanis travelling overseas has surged by 300 percent in just one year. Previously, an average of 2 to 2.5 million Pakistanis travelled overseas each year; now, this number has risen to 1 million.

In regards to the report, millions of young individuals concerned about the unpredictable economic and political the environment, price increases, and unemployment have sought refuge abroad.

Doctors, engineers, IT professionals, accountants, associate engineers, teachers, and medics are among the individuals who have moved abroad; over 92 thousand highly qualified persons have also migrated abroad, according to Urdu newspaper Daily K2.