FlyDubai to launch flights to Pakistan’s Islamabad, Lahore cities from July 1

A Fly Dubai Boeing 737 Max taxis at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, on November 22, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 25 June 2024
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FlyDubai to launch flights to Pakistan’s Islamabad, Lahore cities from July 1

  • FlyDubai first started operating flights to Pakistan in 2010 with the launch of flights to Karachi 
  • Return Business class fares from Dubai to Islamabad start from $1497, Economy class fares from $353

ISLAMABAD: Dubai-based carrier flydubai this week announced it would launch flights to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and its eastern city Lahore starting from July 1, saying the move would offer passengers from the UAE and the region “more convenient options” for travel. 

In a press release on Monday, flydubai said flights to the Islamabad International Airport (ISB) and Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) will operate daily from Terminal 2 at the Dubai International (DXB). 

Flydubai first started operating flights to Pakistan in 2010 with the launch of flights to the southern port city of Karachi. In addition to Islamabad and Lahore, the carrier also serves flights to Faisalabad, Karachi, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot cities of Pakistan.

“Pakistan has long been an important market for flydubai,” Hamad Obaidalla, chief commercial officer at flydubai, was quoted as saying in the press release. “Since 2010 when we first started operations to the market, we have seen sustained demand for travel and with the start of our daily services to Islamabad and Lahore, we look forward to offering passengers more opportunities to explore Dubai, the GCC region and beyond on the flydubai network.”

“As our flights will be operated by our fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, we are confident that passengers will enjoy an enhanced travel experience with our onboard product,” Sudhir Sreedharan, senior vice president of commercial operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai, said. 

The press release said passengers traveling with flydubai can enjoy “internationally-inspired menus” and hours of immersive entertainment in the Business class while passengers in the Economy class can enjoy optimized space and comfort.

As per the airline, the return Business class fares from DXB to ISB start from AED 5,500 ($1497) and Economy class fares start from AED 1,300 ($353). Return Business class fares from ISB to DXB start from Rs400,000 ($1436) and Economy class fares start from Rs120,000 ($430). 

Return Business class fares from DXB to LHE start from AED 5,500 (1497) and Economy class fares start from AED 1,200 ($326), the airline said. It added that return Business class fares from LHE to DXB start from Rs400,000 ($1436) and Economy class fares start from Rs 120,000 ($430). 


Sri Lanka seal gritty T20 win over Pakistan to level series

Updated 11 January 2026
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Sri Lanka seal gritty T20 win over Pakistan to level series

  • In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka scored 160 runs before choking Pakistan to 146-8
  • The series saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game

Dambulla: Sri Lanka eked out a hard fought 14-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20 at rain-hit Dambulla on Sunday, easing their batting jitters and squaring the three-match series 1-1.

The series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup with Pakistan set to play all their matches in Sri Lanka due to political tensions with nuclear-armed neighbors India, saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game.

“We were a bit worried about our batting and I’m glad we addressed that today,” said Wanindu Hasaranga, who walked away with both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honors.

“The bowlers did a good job too. The ball was wet and it wasn’t easy. We tried to bowl wide and slow and asked them to take risks.”

Hasaranga took four wickets in the game and in the process completed 150 wickets in T20Is.

In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka muscled their way to a competitive 160 before choking Pakistan to 146-8.

Having been bowled out inside 20 overs in the series opener, Sri Lanka needed a statement with the bat and duly ticked every box after being put in.

The top order laid the platform and the middle order applied the finishing touches.

Wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis made hay under the Power Play, blasting 30 off 16 balls while Dhananjaya de Silva (22 off 15) and Charith Asalanka (21 off 13) kept the scoreboard ticking.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka then swung the momentum decisively, clubbing 34 off just nine deliveries, peppered with five towering sixes.

The sixth-wicket stand between Shanaka and Janith Liyanage produced 52 runs in just 15 balls and proved the turning point, shifting the game firmly Sri Lanka’s way.

Pakistan came out swinging in reply, racing to 50 in just 19 balls with captain Salman Agha hammering 45 off 12 balls, including five fours and three sixes.

But once the field spread, Sri Lanka tightened the screws, applied the choke and forced the asking rate to spiral.

“It was a good game of cricket,” Agha said.

“We conceded too many runs, but our batting effort was good. Unfortunately, we fell short. We know we are going to play all our World Cup games in Sri Lanka and it’s important that we played in similar conditions,” he added.