Fuel shortage postpones flights to Nimroz

ZARANJ (PAN): A private airliner, Kam Air, has cancelled flights to southwestern Nimroz province due to a fuel shortage problem in neighbouring Herat province, an official said on Thursday.

The last flight took place in the province a month ago, Amanullah, an official at the Nimroz Agriculture Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News. He accused Kam Air of being “disorganised”.

Residents of the remote province come to Herat for medical treatment and trade either by air or by land through the Dilaram-Zaranj highway, an insecure road plagued by bandits.

Khushal, a Kam Air ticket seller in Zaranj said: “Fuel for the aircraft are not available in Herat, I can’t say when the flights will resume.”

Hidayatullah Yaqubi, head of Nimroz Airport, said not a single flight had taken place over the past 20 days.  

However, an official of the company in Kabul, Khudaidad Fadodi, said their last flight took place a week back. He also confirmed the fuel problem in Herat and was unaware the situation would be addressed.

ss/mud