Australian HC team assesses Skardu Int'l Airport
KARACHI: A high-level delegation from the Australian High Commission in Islamabad conducted a comprehensive assessment of Skardu International Airport, evaluating the facility's operational capabilities and safety measures for Australian travellers visiting Pakistan's northern tourism region.
According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), the three-member delegation, led by Second Secretary and Consul Scott Gordon Macdonald-Golden, carried out detailed inspections of the airport's infrastructure and emergency response systems.
The visit focused primarily on ensuring adequate safety protocols and support systems are in place for Australian nationals, particularly the growing number of tourists attracted to the scenic northern regions of Pakistan accessible through Skardu.
During their assessment, the delegation conducted thorough tours of both arrival and departure terminals, observing passenger processing procedures and receiving detailed briefings on the airport's emergency preparedness protocols and security arrangements.
The team also evaluated general passenger amenities and facilities. The Australian officials expressed satisfaction with the airport's standards, particularly commending its cleanliness, organizational efficiency, and overall service quality. The positive assessment reflects well on the airport's readiness to handle international travellers safely and efficiently.
Skardu International Airport, managed by PAA, serves as a crucial gateway for tourism development in Pakistan's northern region, PAA spokesman said, adding that the facility is continuing enhancing its capabilities to accommodate both domestic and international passengers as tourism to the area grows.
The inspection visit underscores the importance of maintaining international safety and service standards as Pakistan's tourism sector expands, particularly in remote but increasingly popular destinations like Skardu and the surrounding mountain regions.
Officials from both sides indicated that the assessment would help strengthen cooperation in ensuring the safety and comfort of Australian tourists visiting Pakistan's northern areas, which have become increasingly popular destinations for adventure tourism and mountaineering activities.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Teen social media ban clears first hurdle in Australia
Some age-checking applications collect too much data and no product works 100% of the time, but using software to enforce a teenage social media ban can work in Australia, the head of the world's biggest trial of the technology said on Friday. The view from the government-commissioned Age Assurance Technology Trial of more than 1,000 Australian school students and hundreds of adults is a boost to the country's plan to keep under 16s off social media. From December, in a world first ban, companies like Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok must prove they are taking reasonable steps to block young people from their platforms or face a fine of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). Since the Australian government announced the legislation last year, child protection advocates, tech industry groups and children themselves have questioned whether the ban can be enforced due to workarounds like Virtual Private Networks, which obscure an internet user's location. "Age assurance can be done in Australia privately, efficiently and effectively," said Tony Allen, CEO of the Age Check Certification Scheme, the UK-based organisation overseeing the Australian trial. The trial found "no significant tech barriers" to rolling out a software-based scheme in Australia, although there was "no one-size-fits-all solution, and no solution that worked perfectly in all deployments," Allen added in an online presentation. Allen noted that some age-assurance software firms "don't really know at this stage what data they may need to be able to support law enforcement and regulators in the future. "There's a risk there that they could be inadvertently over-collecting information that wouldn't be used or needed." Organisers of the trial, which concluded earlier this month, gave no data findings and offered only a broad overview which did not name individual products. They will deliver a report to the government next month which officials have said will inform an industry consultation ahead of the December deadline. A spokesperson for the office of the eSafety Commissioner, which will advise the government on how to implement the ban, said the preliminary findings were a "useful indication of the likely outcomes from the trial. "We are pleased to see the trial suggests that age assurance technologies, when deployed the right way and likely in conjunction with other techniques and methods, can be private, robust and effective," the spokesperson said. The Australian ban is being watched closely around the world with several governments exploring ways to limit children's exposure to social media.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Govt launches Rs180mn Skardu International Airport upgrade project
The government has formally launched the upgrade project of Skardu International Airport, marking a key milestone in strengthening air connectivity and unlocking the economic potential of Gilgit-Baltistan. The formal launch event took place at a local resort in Skardu, where the joint venture consultancy, comprising Swiss firm Intairplan and its Pakistani partners, presented their strategic roadmap for the airport's development. Australian HC team assesses Skardu Int'l Airport Senior officials from the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) attended the meeting, including the Director Planning & Development, the Additional Director Project Monitoring, Project Director Skardu International Airport, and the Airport Manager Skardu. Reforms in aviation sector reviewed: PM for further improvement in facilities at airports Representatives from the local administration, armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholder institutions were also present. According to officials, the design consultancy for the upgrade has been awarded at a cost of Rs180 million. Construction work is expected to begin within a year, following the completion of the detailed design and PC-1. Stakeholders expressed unanimous support for the project and commended the PAA's efforts in positioning Skardu as a hub for international tourism and trade. The project is expected to boost regional development by enhancing air connectivity and enabling broader economic integration. The Skardu International Airport Upgrade Project is being hailed as a transformative step toward promoting sustainable growth and global accessibility in the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Govt launches Skardu International Airport upgrade project
The government has formally launched the upgrade project of Skardu International Airport, marking a key milestone in strengthening air connectivity and unlocking the economic potential of Gilgit-Baltistan. The formal launch event took place at a local resort in Skardu, where the joint venture consultancy, comprising Swiss firm Intairplan and its Pakistani partners, presented their strategic roadmap for the airport's development. Australian HC team assesses Skardu Int'l Airport Senior officials from the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) attended the meeting, including the Director Planning & Development, the Additional Director Project Monitoring, Project Director Skardu International Airport, and the Airport Manager Skardu. Reforms in aviation sector reviewed: PM for further improvement in facilities at airports Representatives from the local administration, armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholder institutions were also present. According to officials, the design consultancy for the upgradation has been awarded at a cost of Rs180 million. Construction work is expected to begin within a year, following the completion of the detailed design and PC-1. Stakeholders expressed unanimous support for the project and commended the PAA's efforts in positioning Skardu as a hub for international tourism and trade. The project is expected to boost regional development by enhancing air connectivity and enabling broader economic integration. The Skardu International Airport Upgradation Project is being hailed as a transformative step toward promoting sustainable growth and global accessibility in the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan.
