Balochistan High Court Issues Show-Cause Notice to PIA CEO and Civil Aviation Officials Over Flight Shortage and Fare Hike

**QUETTA (Qudrat Daily)** — The Balochistan High Court has issued show-cause notices to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) CEO Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat and officials of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over the shortage of domestic flights from Quetta and the extraordinary increase in airfares. The court also sought a detailed report from the Competition Commission of Pakistan on a possible cartelization among airlines.

A divisional bench comprising Chief Justice Rozi Khan Bareech and Justice Sardar Ahmed Haleemi heard the constitutional petition filed by Haji Akhtar Muhammad Kakar, Senior Vice President of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce, through Advocate Dr. Parvez Khan.

During the hearing, PIA’s Regional General Manager for Balochistan, Advocate Iqbal Shah, Additional Attorney General Farid Dogar, and Assistant Attorney General Anwar Naseem Kasi appeared before the court. However, despite earlier summons, the PIA CEO and a deputy secretary from the CAA failed to appear, prompting the bench to express severe displeasure.

Chief Justice Rozi Khan Bareech remarked that this was a case of public importance, as the people of Balochistan were facing immense hardships, yet the concerned institutions were not taking it seriously. Government lawyers apologized, citing delays in communication, and assured the court that both officers would personally appear at the next hearing.

The petitioner contended that although five airlines operate in Pakistan, only two run limited flights to Quetta—often just once or twice a week—and even those are frequently canceled. The remaining airlines operate no flights to Quetta at all. Furthermore, there are no air services to other Balochistan cities like Gwadar, Turbat, and Zhob, despite long distances, poor road conditions, and security challenges that make air travel a necessity.

The petition stated that while there are over ten daily flights between Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore—with fares ranging between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 30,000—flights to Quetta are scarce and disproportionately expensive, even though the distance is shorter.

It argued that this discriminatory conduct violates Articles 8, 9, 18, and 25 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality, freedom of trade, and the fundamental rights to life and movement.

The court, after hearing the arguments, issued notices to PIA, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Competition Commission, directing them to submit detailed responses and reports at the next hearing to ensure that the people of Balochistan are provided with equal air travel facilities as citizens in other parts of the country.