ISLAMABAD    -    Minister for Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique Wednesday di­rected Pakistan Interna­tional Airlines (PIA) and urged other domestic airlines to increase their number of air flights to Quetta due to limited land connectivity caused by the recent floods that played havoc in parts of the country. He passed the directives while presiding over a special meeting of the Aviation Department. “Due to the lack of land connectivity, instructions have been issued to national and other domestic airlines to increase the air op­erations of Quetta,” he said. The minister said weekly flights from La­hore to Quetta should also be increased. Saad Rafique said PIA should promote its conces­sional packages given to senior citizens, students and special persons. He asked PIA to prepare feasibility to operate flights from Quetta to Iran and Iraq aimed at providing safe and com­fortable travel facilities to pilgrims. The minister said PIA had improved its food quality but there was still room for fur­ther improvement. He stressed the need for encouraging ‘budget airlines’ operating with small jets to increase do­mestic flights and make small airports function­al. Saad Rafique was of the view that all airlines, including PIA should collaborate with tour promoters and licensed airlines to promote tour­ism with increased do­mestic flight operations