Dubai to Karakorum in four hours: The game-changer for Pakistani tourism?
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Among the whirlwind that is Pakistan’s political landscape, a beacon of excitement has emerged: regular and direct flights from Dubai to Skardu have begun. From the shores of the Gulf, the majestic Karakoram with some of the world’s highest mountain peaks, is now officially a four-hour direct flight away. The first landing on the morning of Pakistan’s 77th independence day received a water cannon welcome and the 80 passengers on board were handed bouquets of flowers as they disembarked at what can be called one of the world’s most underrated adventure playgrounds.
So, why the fanfare? The new flight schedule from the UAE promises to bring a huge lift to international tourism in the country. Skardu is a hidden gem nestled snug in the embrace of the Karakoram, a valley that connects diverse landscapes, its buzzing bazaar a bona fide doorway to adventures, where international and local mountaineering celebrities stroll the streets on their way up or down from their summits each season. From mountain ranges to sky-high deserts, the planet’s second-highest plains and a concentration of glaciers rivalled only by the polar regions, the fact that this place is now running a flight schedule from the Middle East is an extraordinary gain for both sides.
Though there is a host of tourism infrastructure already in place from luxury sightseeing to trekking, big questions loom. Is Pakistan fully prepared for this impending transformation? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t a resounding yes. The path ahead is laden with a multitude of structural and capacity-related challenges that Pakistan must grapple with. From improving waste management, enhancing disaster response, fixing network gaps, ensuring excellent medical care for adventurers, extending insurance coverage to hardworking but underserved porters and bridging communication gaps between locals and visitors. Pakistan also needs to boost private sector funding to drive more investments in the hospitality sector and ensure that the native population is prepared and enthusiastic about the news that their pristine home has just opened up to the world.
Big questions loom: Is Pakistan fully prepared for this impending transformation? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t a resounding yes.
- Umair Abdullah
Pakistan is an inviting, affordable destination for international tourists, and beyond the adventure, the new link holds magic to weave bonds between people and cultures. With so many cultural similarities already in place, travelers from Arab countries can dive into Pakistan’s warm and welcoming traditions, cultivating friendships that transcend borders. Not to mention the inevitable surge of foreign currency coming in. Moreover, these flights have huge potential to create pathways for Middle Eastern investments that could reshape the hospitality infrastructure and services of North Pakistan. Simply put, they could be the game-changer.
While challenges await resolution, Skardu emerges as an unexplored paradise, boasting two cold deserts and neighboring the second-highest plateau and peak in the world – the Deosai plains and K2 respectively. Still, unless the government and private sector don’t step in to create and regulate tourism management infrastructure, the costs could be too high and the area could transform far too quickly for it to be sustainable for guests or locals.
These are some of Pakistan’s most exceptional scenic and experiential treasures. Their ecosystems must be protected as the country ventures into transformational initiatives with regards to tourism.
- The author is a digital nomad based in Skardu and works in technology and adventure. Tweets at @Abcorn98
