Presiding over a meeting on Saturday, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz instructed officials to make Air Punjab operational as soon as possible. She directed the team to accelerate the completion of Phase I of the project and ensure that modern, comfortable aircraft are acquired on lease without delay.

The chief minister was briefed in detail on the airline’s initial plans. It was confirmed that the first route will operate between Lahore and Islamabad. She emphasised that all arrangements must be completed promptly so the service can begin its domestic operations.

The meeting also reviewed the Murree Glass Train project, with the chief minister urging relevant departments to advance all required measures.

Earlier in April, the provincial government announced that Air Punjab would begin operations using four leased aircraft for domestic routes, with plans to apply for an international licence within a year. According to the government, the aircraft have now been secured and preparations for domestic flights are underway.

The initiative follows the administration’s earlier interest in acquiring Pakistan International Airlines, signalling a broader push to strengthen Punjab’s footprint in the aviation sector.