Chitral Times Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is endowed with tremendous potential for tourism. In line with the vision of the Prime Minister, the National Aviation Policy 2019 introduced a special class of License, Tourism Promotion and Regional Integration (TPRI). The new class of license is aimed at promotion of Tourism opportunities across country. The new License Class ensures facilitation of Ease of Doing Business and also aims at substantially reducing the Cost of Doing Business, besides providing affordable tourism opportunity.The salient features of TPRI include no landing,housing and air navigation charges at both ends routes/destination.The TPRI liscence will be issued within 60 days with validity of 5 years.There will be no rent for aeronautical services,office space at specified airports.Special rules will apply for TPRI luscdnce operator to operate between trunk/primary routes.Tax incentives may be provided to TPRI licence by FBR for socio economic routes. TPRI liscence would be required in addition to Charter liscence,fir commuter operation on these routes.TPRI operators can operate on socio economic routes with aircrafts having upto 40 seats capacity. On the other hand M/S Aircraft Sales and Services (Pvt.) Ltd. (ASSL) has completed the formalities for start of TPRI operations. The Company intends to commence its Tourism Promotion flights with three aircraft fleet including Beech – 1900 D, Cessna F-406 and King Air 250. The company is expected to induct two additional larger aircraft (i.e. 02 Embraer E-145 with seating capacity of 50 each) in the near future. The company will operate from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad as hub stations with flights to Gawadar, Turbat, Moen-jo-Daro, Gilgit and Skardu. It is expected that these TPRI operations would facilitate the locals and foreigners to explore Pakistan through safe and comfortable air transport.It is interesting to note that ASSL is the most experienced charter company in Pakistan since 1976 with over 45,000 hours of flying time for its clients. ASSL specializes in Air transport for employees of oil & gas exploration and mining companies.It also arrange charter flights to Gwadar, Quetta, Pasni, Sukkur and other socio-economic regions.It also has customized and flexible flight scheduling.One can standby 24 hours ASSl services for any emergency and medical evacuations In view of the foregoing and upon completion of all requirements and procedures, Mr. Hassan Nasir Jamy, Secretary Aviation / Director General Civil Aviation Authority, has approved the award of the first Tourism Promotion and Regional Integration License to M/S Aircraft Sales and Services. The License Award Ceremony is scheduled to be held at Margalla Hotel, Islamabad on 6th January, 2020 at 1500 hours. Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister for Aviation shall be the Chief Guest for the occasion. Mr. Akbar Rahim Jaffer, Chief Executive Officer ASSL will receive the TPRI License from the Honorable Minister for Aviation.Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari,Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis will also attend the ceremony.