Heavy rains disrupt PIA flight operations in Karachi

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) Karachi flight operations were disrupted on Tuesday due to heavy rains and urban flooding.

According to airline spokesperson Abdullah Khan, flights PK-310/311 (Karachi–Quetta–Karachi) and PK-308/309 (Karachi–Islamabad–Karachi) were cancelled because of the downpour.

He said that  flight PK-305 from Lahore to Karachi was delayed at Lahore Airport and will depart once the weather improves. Karachi–Najaf–Karachi flight PK-109/110 was also delayed as passengers could not reach the airport, with departure from Karachi now expected at 10:30 pm.

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Similarly, Karachi–Islamabad flight PK-370 was delayed as passengers were unable to reach the airport, with its departure expected at 9:30 pm.

Delays are also expected for Karachi–Jeddah flight PK-731 and Karachi–Madinah flight PK-843.

Meanwhile, PIA’s Karachi–Islamabad–Karachi flights PK-300/301, scheduled for Wednesday morning, have been cancelled.

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Passengers have been advised to remain in contact with the PIA call centre at 111-786-786 for timely flight updates, and to confirm flight timings and road conditions before travelling to the airport.

PIA has apologised for the weather-related disruptions and assured that efforts are being made to restore the flight schedule at the earliest.

Meanwhile, all public and private schools in Karachi will remain closed tomorrow (Wednesday) due to heavy rains that have paralysed the city, Sindh Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah announced on Tuesday night.

The education department also said that all government and private colleges will be shut, while the technical coard has postponed exams scheduled for Wednesday.

Similarly, the Lyari University declared a holiday.

The decision came in the wake of relentless downpours that submerged large parts of the city, leaving thousands of residents, commuters and drivers stranded.

Schoolchildren stranded

In several areas, schoolchildren were unable to reach homes even late into the night after the schools were shut.

Parents have expressed deep concern on social media over their children’s safety.

Many complained they had no information about their whereabouts of their children as vans remained stuck on roads and drivers became unreachable.