GUJRAT: The PIA will soon launch direct flight operations from the Sialkot International Airport for different European destinations, including Norwegian and Danish capitals Oslo and Copenhagen as well as Italian city Milan and Spain`s Barcelona.

A senior airline of ficial working at SIA told Dawn the PIA Chairman Air Marshal Arshad Malik had announced starting the flights for these destinations. He said hopefully the flights for Oslo and Milan would start by January next year.

He said the flight for Oslo would also operate up to Copenhagen whereas the flight for Milan would also operate up to Barcelona.

He said since an overwhelming number of expatriates settled in aforementioned countries belonged to Gujrat, Sialkot,MandiBahauddin andKharian,SIAlocation would reduce their byroad travel time.

`A Boeing 777 willcarry passengers for these European destinations once a week from Sialkot and the non-stop flight may also help boost exports from Sialkot, Gujrat and Gujranwala, he said.

UOG ACTING VC: The Punjab government has appointed Prof Dr Faheem Malik as acting University of Gujrat vice chancellor after relieving Prof Dr Ziaul Qayyum who has already been selected as Allama Iqbal Open University VC.

Dr Malik, the dean of faculty of Zoology, has already served as acting UoG VC back in 2014 when then VC Prof Dr Niazmuddin completed his two stints at the UoG and joined Punjab Higher Education Commission.

Sources in the PHED say the selection of a regular VC for the UoG might take two to three months for which some professors of the UoG have already started lobbying through political channels. WASEEM ASHRAFBUTT