Like the Skardu route, flying from Karachi to Gilgit requires a connection through Islamabad — there’s no direct service.
The route: Karachi → Islamabad → Gilgit
Fly Karachi to Islamabad (roughly 2 hours), then connect onward to Gilgit. PIA operates the Islamabad–Gilgit leg, which — like Skardu’s — is a visual approach flight dependent on clear weather.
Booking order matters
Book your Islamabad–Gilgit flight first, since it’s the more schedule-constrained, weather-sensitive segment, then arrange your Karachi–Islamabad leg to comfortably precede it rather than booking a tight connection.
What to expect
Given the distance from Karachi, most travelers treat this as a full travel day rather than trying to arrive same-day into Gilgit — an overnight in Islamabad before an early Gilgit flight is a sensible, low-stress option, particularly during shoulder seasons when weather delays are more common.
Combining with Hunza
Gilgit Airport is the standard gateway for Hunza as well — the onward drive to Karimabad takes about 2–2.5 hours. If your trip covers both Gilgit and Hunza, book your flight into Gilgit and plan the rest of your itinerary as a road-based circuit from there.