That is a codeshare with PIA with PIA doing the flying. So still not helpful for skymiles.

Oh wow! That is good to know! Dare I dream that some day PIA gets it act together and joins SkyTeam, especially with AI joining StarAlliance...

Duplicate post.

Asking PIA to get its act together is asking for too much. As long as it stays under state control, i do not see much changing. And i do not see the state setting it free. At a time when almost all euro airlines have stopped flying to pakistan, PIA should have been thriving. But they have managed to let EK, EY, QR and even GF eat their breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Going back to skymiles, what i am surprised by is the fact that skyteam made no effort to bring in GF in its fold. It would have been beneficial to both. If an airline like Egyptair can get into Star, why couldn't skyteam get after GF? We know QR, EK and EY have no intention to be part of any alliance but what about GF?

China Southern also serves Islamabad from Urumqi twice weekly. But I guess this is even less helpful for the OP than the Beijing flight :D However, Urumqi is quite handy for transfers to Central Asia (Tajikistan, Kazhakstan, Uzbekistand).