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Developers: CAA
Status: Underconstruction
Contractors: Berger group
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Location: Islamabad
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Islamabad: Gandhara International Airport
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#1
Jilawatan 
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Posted 29 June 2006 - 02:07 PM
Designed by: CPG of Singapore
Developers: CAA
Status: Underconstruction
Contractors: Berger group
Terminal Height: N/A
Tower Height: N/A
Covered Area: N/A
Office Floors: N/A
Parking Floors: N/A
Location: Islamabad
Render:
Satellite Image:
Developers: CAA
Status: Underconstruction
Contractors: Berger group
Terminal Height: N/A
Tower Height: N/A
Covered Area: N/A
Office Floors: N/A
Parking Floors: N/A
Location: Islamabad
Render:
Satellite Image:
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#2
Jilawatan
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Posted 29 June 2006 - 02:08 PM
New Islamabad airport to be named Gandhara
ISLAMABAD: A planned international airport in Islamabad is likely to be named the Gandhara International Airport, after one of the oldest civilisations in the region, Daily Times has learnt.
“The name for the new Islamabad airport, for which the ground is likely to be broken by the end of this year, has been proposed keeping in view the historical and cultural background of the area where it will be constructed,” sources said. Officials believe the proposed name would help promote a “soft image” of Pakistan abroad, sources added. The Civil Aviation Authority has acquired about 1,300 acres of land for the new airport near Fateh Jang. zulfiqar ghuman
ISLAMABAD: A planned international airport in Islamabad is likely to be named the Gandhara International Airport, after one of the oldest civilisations in the region, Daily Times has learnt.
“The name for the new Islamabad airport, for which the ground is likely to be broken by the end of this year, has been proposed keeping in view the historical and cultural background of the area where it will be constructed,” sources said. Officials believe the proposed name would help promote a “soft image” of Pakistan abroad, sources added. The Civil Aviation Authority has acquired about 1,300 acres of land for the new airport near Fateh Jang. zulfiqar ghuman
#3
Jilawatan
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Posted 29 June 2006 - 02:09 PM
Monday, June 26, 2006
Privatisation process will not be reversed: PM
* Aziz pledges to implement SC verdict ‘in letter and spirit’
* Rejects opposition’s demand for dismissal of Sindh govt
By Shahzad Raza
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday that the government will not reverse the process of privatisation in the country.
In the first top-level official reaction to the recent Supreme Court (SC) judgement which struck down the privatisation of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Aziz said that the government respected the judgment of the apex court and would implement it “in letter and spirit”. Talking to journalists at Prime Minister’s House, he said that the Supreme Court had also upheld the privatisation process and the Privatisation Ordinance, under which public units were privatised. “We will go ahead with the privatisation process under existing law,” he said.
Asked whether the government would act against certain parties involved in the privatisation of the PSM privatisation, Aziz said that any decision would be taken after examining the detailed judgment of the court. Regarding the March stock market crash, the prime minister said that the government had introduced “major reforms” to the stock market, which was “an integral part of the country’s economy”.
He said that the government had sent the summary of formation of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) to President General Pervez Musharraf for approval. The federal government had nominated four federal ministers as its representatives in the summary, but did not reveal their names. The CCI would be notified once approved by the president, and would be summoned soon after the notification, he said. He rejected the opposition’s demand of the dismissal of the Sindh coalition government and the governor of the province. “The Sindh government is an elected government. It is representative of the people. There is no justification for the opposition’s demand. The MQM is our coalition partner,” he said, adding that the opposition must avoid “politics of negativism”.
He said that any decision regarding the two offices held by President Musharraf would be taken in accordance with the constitution. He said that he did not see any reason to change the existing coalition between the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and its allies. Referring to energy talks between Pakistan and the United States starting today (Monday), Aziz said that Pakistan would look to other countries for cooperation in case the US did not offer nuclear energy. He said that peaceful use of nuclear energy was Pakistan’s “genuine right”.
He said that Pakistan remained committed to result-oriented dialogue with India. The atmosphere for talks between the two sides was getting better but both countries needed to move forward to dispute resolution mechanisms, he said.
Earlier, in a surprise visit to his constituency in Fateh Jang, the prime minister announced that the design for a new international airport in the area would be approved next month and the construction of the airport would start by the end of the year.
Source: Daily Times
Privatisation process will not be reversed: PM
* Aziz pledges to implement SC verdict ‘in letter and spirit’
* Rejects opposition’s demand for dismissal of Sindh govt
By Shahzad Raza
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday that the government will not reverse the process of privatisation in the country.
In the first top-level official reaction to the recent Supreme Court (SC) judgement which struck down the privatisation of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Aziz said that the government respected the judgment of the apex court and would implement it “in letter and spirit”. Talking to journalists at Prime Minister’s House, he said that the Supreme Court had also upheld the privatisation process and the Privatisation Ordinance, under which public units were privatised. “We will go ahead with the privatisation process under existing law,” he said.
Asked whether the government would act against certain parties involved in the privatisation of the PSM privatisation, Aziz said that any decision would be taken after examining the detailed judgment of the court. Regarding the March stock market crash, the prime minister said that the government had introduced “major reforms” to the stock market, which was “an integral part of the country’s economy”.
He said that the government had sent the summary of formation of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) to President General Pervez Musharraf for approval. The federal government had nominated four federal ministers as its representatives in the summary, but did not reveal their names. The CCI would be notified once approved by the president, and would be summoned soon after the notification, he said. He rejected the opposition’s demand of the dismissal of the Sindh coalition government and the governor of the province. “The Sindh government is an elected government. It is representative of the people. There is no justification for the opposition’s demand. The MQM is our coalition partner,” he said, adding that the opposition must avoid “politics of negativism”.
He said that any decision regarding the two offices held by President Musharraf would be taken in accordance with the constitution. He said that he did not see any reason to change the existing coalition between the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and its allies. Referring to energy talks between Pakistan and the United States starting today (Monday), Aziz said that Pakistan would look to other countries for cooperation in case the US did not offer nuclear energy. He said that peaceful use of nuclear energy was Pakistan’s “genuine right”.
He said that Pakistan remained committed to result-oriented dialogue with India. The atmosphere for talks between the two sides was getting better but both countries needed to move forward to dispute resolution mechanisms, he said.
Earlier, in a surprise visit to his constituency in Fateh Jang, the prime minister announced that the design for a new international airport in the area would be approved next month and the construction of the airport would start by the end of the year.
Source: Daily Times
#4
Jilawatan
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Posted 01 December 2006 - 10:18 PM
CAA buying more land for Islamabad airport
By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD Dec 1: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has reached an agreement for buying another 323 kanals of land near Fatehjang for the proposed “New Islamabad International Airport” (NIIA) through a private agent.
However, certain sections have started raising questions about the deal alleging that it violates the Land Acquisition Act. They say that if the deal reached between the CAA and the private agent is executed it may cause a loss of approximately Rs96 million to the government. According to them, the total cost of the land comes to Rs149.42 million at the rate of Rs0.475 million per kanal, as against the prevalent land price of only about Rs150,000 per kanal in the area.
Due to the high price to be paid under the deal, a lot of other land-owners in the area have filed petitions for ‘additional compensation’ for their land and the CAA may get involved in endless litigation.
The agreement signed by the Regional Director (North) and the agent, RV Enterprises Rawalpindi, on Nov 2 binds the agent to acquire the additional land within four weeks, meaning the deal will mature on Dec 2 and final payments made accordingly. The foundation stone of the airport is scheduled to be laid in the last week of this month.
CAA’s general manager, estate, Mohammad Fida who is reported to have expressed serious reservations over the deal, says that the stage of payment under the agreement has not yet reached and the matter of price is likely to be renegotiated with the agent.
Talking to Dawn by telephone from Karachi, a senior CCA official avoided answering a question about the bypassing of procedures for the purchase of land saying the matter was pending and it was being renegotiated. He stressed that since the whole deal was under reassessment it could not be termed final. The agreement remained on paper till the CAA gave its final approval.
Three major violations of the departmental procedure in the deal are: No confirmation of availability of sufficient fund for the purchase was made; approval of competent authority for appointment of a consultant was not taken; and opinion of legal, finance and planning departments was not obtained.
Sources in the CAA revealed that although the agreement mentioned that additional land was urgently needed, the fact was that the land needed for the airport had already been purchased and fenced on all sides.
The deed with the private agent, the sources said, had been reached without any advertisement in newspapers inviting open bids.
By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD Dec 1: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has reached an agreement for buying another 323 kanals of land near Fatehjang for the proposed “New Islamabad International Airport” (NIIA) through a private agent.
However, certain sections have started raising questions about the deal alleging that it violates the Land Acquisition Act. They say that if the deal reached between the CAA and the private agent is executed it may cause a loss of approximately Rs96 million to the government. According to them, the total cost of the land comes to Rs149.42 million at the rate of Rs0.475 million per kanal, as against the prevalent land price of only about Rs150,000 per kanal in the area.
Due to the high price to be paid under the deal, a lot of other land-owners in the area have filed petitions for ‘additional compensation’ for their land and the CAA may get involved in endless litigation.
The agreement signed by the Regional Director (North) and the agent, RV Enterprises Rawalpindi, on Nov 2 binds the agent to acquire the additional land within four weeks, meaning the deal will mature on Dec 2 and final payments made accordingly. The foundation stone of the airport is scheduled to be laid in the last week of this month.
CAA’s general manager, estate, Mohammad Fida who is reported to have expressed serious reservations over the deal, says that the stage of payment under the agreement has not yet reached and the matter of price is likely to be renegotiated with the agent.
Talking to Dawn by telephone from Karachi, a senior CCA official avoided answering a question about the bypassing of procedures for the purchase of land saying the matter was pending and it was being renegotiated. He stressed that since the whole deal was under reassessment it could not be termed final. The agreement remained on paper till the CAA gave its final approval.
Three major violations of the departmental procedure in the deal are: No confirmation of availability of sufficient fund for the purchase was made; approval of competent authority for appointment of a consultant was not taken; and opinion of legal, finance and planning departments was not obtained.
Sources in the CAA revealed that although the agreement mentioned that additional land was urgently needed, the fact was that the land needed for the airport had already been purchased and fenced on all sides.
The deed with the private agent, the sources said, had been reached without any advertisement in newspapers inviting open bids.
#5
Jilawatan
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Posted 12 December 2006 - 11:42 AM
Groundbreaking of new Islamabad airport on 21st
The News International, December 11, 2006
ISLAMABAD: The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new Islamabad airport is scheduled to be held on December 21, but it may be postponed for a few days because of a delay in the completion of design drawings, official sources disclosed.
"The engineers are trying their utmost to complete the design drawings before the groundbreaking ceremony on December 21, but if the drawings are not ready, the ceremony might be held between December 23 and 25," an official told The News on condition of anonymity.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Defence are busy in making preparations for the ceremony, the official said. President Musharraf would lay the foundation stone of the project, while Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, elected representatives from the area and various federal ministers and senior government officials would be present on the occasion, he added.
The official said that through a letter, the Ministry of Defence has requested the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to include the area where the new airport will be situated in the capital territory and issue a notification to this effect at the earliest.
"Ordinarily, a notification in this regard can be issued only when the Punjab Assembly passes a resolution to surrender the provincially controlled area in favour of the capital territory administration. Following a provincial assembly resolution, the parliament will have to endorse the step with a majority vote," the official said.
However, he added, till the completion of the parliamentary formalities to comply with the clauses of the Constitution, the president and the Punjab governor might promulgate necessary ordinances for this purpose.
"The construction of the airport will cost more than Rs 65 billion and an American construction company - BECTAL - has been awarded the contract for the same that will be completed in three to four years," the official said. "Additional 2,500 Kanals of land will be acquired for the airport project and the process for the acquisition of the land has been initiated," he added.
The official said the CAA has already acquired over 3,000 acres of land at the site of the new airport
______________________________
P.S: Rs.65 billion=more than 1 billion US dollars. It was supposed to be a 330 million dollar project.....
The News International, December 11, 2006
ISLAMABAD: The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new Islamabad airport is scheduled to be held on December 21, but it may be postponed for a few days because of a delay in the completion of design drawings, official sources disclosed.
"The engineers are trying their utmost to complete the design drawings before the groundbreaking ceremony on December 21, but if the drawings are not ready, the ceremony might be held between December 23 and 25," an official told The News on condition of anonymity.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Defence are busy in making preparations for the ceremony, the official said. President Musharraf would lay the foundation stone of the project, while Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, elected representatives from the area and various federal ministers and senior government officials would be present on the occasion, he added.
The official said that through a letter, the Ministry of Defence has requested the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to include the area where the new airport will be situated in the capital territory and issue a notification to this effect at the earliest.
"Ordinarily, a notification in this regard can be issued only when the Punjab Assembly passes a resolution to surrender the provincially controlled area in favour of the capital territory administration. Following a provincial assembly resolution, the parliament will have to endorse the step with a majority vote," the official said.
However, he added, till the completion of the parliamentary formalities to comply with the clauses of the Constitution, the president and the Punjab governor might promulgate necessary ordinances for this purpose.
"The construction of the airport will cost more than Rs 65 billion and an American construction company - BECTAL - has been awarded the contract for the same that will be completed in three to four years," the official said. "Additional 2,500 Kanals of land will be acquired for the airport project and the process for the acquisition of the land has been initiated," he added.
The official said the CAA has already acquired over 3,000 acres of land at the site of the new airport
______________________________
P.S: Rs.65 billion=more than 1 billion US dollars. It was supposed to be a 330 million dollar project.....
#6
Jilawatan
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Posted 14 December 2006 - 10:44 PM
Land acquisition: CAA told to clarify stance
By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 14: The defence ministry is reported to have asked the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explain its position on a deal for acquiring 323 kanals of land in apparent violation of rules. The deal is part of purchase of additional land for the new Islamabad airport.
In a related development, the CAA has released Rs35 million to a private estate agent as part payment for the land deal. CAA’s spokesman Pervez George confirmed that the first instalment had been released and the remaining amount would be paid under an agreed schedule.
The spokesman said the land was urgently needed for a second runway and the deal had been approved by the board of directors.
Meanwhile, the stone-laying ceremony of the new airport, which was expected to be performed jointly by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Dec 21-23, has been postponed.
Arrangements for the ceremony had been under way for about a month with the CAA and other departments concerned having set up their camp offices, but the President’s House said the president would not be free on the said dates.
By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 14: The defence ministry is reported to have asked the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explain its position on a deal for acquiring 323 kanals of land in apparent violation of rules. The deal is part of purchase of additional land for the new Islamabad airport.
In a related development, the CAA has released Rs35 million to a private estate agent as part payment for the land deal. CAA’s spokesman Pervez George confirmed that the first instalment had been released and the remaining amount would be paid under an agreed schedule.
The spokesman said the land was urgently needed for a second runway and the deal had been approved by the board of directors.
Meanwhile, the stone-laying ceremony of the new airport, which was expected to be performed jointly by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Dec 21-23, has been postponed.
Arrangements for the ceremony had been under way for about a month with the CAA and other departments concerned having set up their camp offices, but the President’s House said the president would not be free on the said dates.
#8
Waqar
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Posted 16 December 2006 - 08:43 PM
New Islamabad International Airport ready for ground breaking Ceremony
RAWALPINDI: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has appointed Lois Berger, a well known firm of USA, as Management Consultant for the construction of New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) while the selection of the Design Consultant will be completed by March this year.
Sources said on Monday that CAA has acquired about 30,000 Kanals of land for the construction of New Islamabad International Airport at Fateh Jang and payments have been made to almost all the property owners in different phases.
The sources said that the process of land acquisition for the project began in 1984. This territory falls in district Rawalpindi and Attock.
"The tenders for construction of roads inside the boundary have been floated in media. The work on boundary wall and watch towers is in final stage," the sources added.
CAA has completed all the homework and preparations for ground breaking ceremony and the project would be completed in four years.
The construction of new airport is the need of the hour as present Islamabad airport cannot accommodate increasing number of domestic and international flights and challenges of modern times.
Courtesy pakistantimes.net
RAWALPINDI: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has appointed Lois Berger, a well known firm of USA, as Management Consultant for the construction of New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) while the selection of the Design Consultant will be completed by March this year.
Sources said on Monday that CAA has acquired about 30,000 Kanals of land for the construction of New Islamabad International Airport at Fateh Jang and payments have been made to almost all the property owners in different phases.
The sources said that the process of land acquisition for the project began in 1984. This territory falls in district Rawalpindi and Attock.
"The tenders for construction of roads inside the boundary have been floated in media. The work on boundary wall and watch towers is in final stage," the sources added.
CAA has completed all the homework and preparations for ground breaking ceremony and the project would be completed in four years.
The construction of new airport is the need of the hour as present Islamabad airport cannot accommodate increasing number of domestic and international flights and challenges of modern times.
Courtesy pakistantimes.net
#9
Waqar
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Posted 16 December 2006 - 08:48 PM
Islamabad Gandhara International Airport Site pics .. and more info all on the website check it out :
http://www.niia.com.pk/index.php
http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/
http://www.niia.com.pk/index.php
http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/
#11
Waqar
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Posted 16 December 2006 - 08:57 PM
The stone-laying ceremony of the new airport, which was expected to be performed jointly by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Dec 21-23, has been postponed.
Date: December 15, 2006
Details: ISLAMABAD, Dec 14: The defence ministry is reported to have asked the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explain its position on a deal for acquiring 323 kanals of land in apparent violation of rules. The deal is part of purchase of additional land for the new Islamabad airport.
In a related development, the CAA has released Rs35 million to a private estate agent as part payment for the land deal. CAA’s spokesman Pervez George confirmed that the first instalment had been released and the remaining amount would be paid under an agreed schedule.
The spokesman said the land was urgently needed for a second runway and the deal had been approved by the board of directors.
Meanwhile, the stone-laying ceremony of the new airport, which was expected to be performed jointly by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Dec 21-23, has been postponed.
Arrangements for the ceremony had been under way for about a month with the CAA and other departments concerned having set up their camp offices, but the President’s House said the president would not be free on the said dates.
http://www.dawn.com/.../12/15/nat4.htm
Date: December 15, 2006
Details: ISLAMABAD, Dec 14: The defence ministry is reported to have asked the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explain its position on a deal for acquiring 323 kanals of land in apparent violation of rules. The deal is part of purchase of additional land for the new Islamabad airport.
In a related development, the CAA has released Rs35 million to a private estate agent as part payment for the land deal. CAA’s spokesman Pervez George confirmed that the first instalment had been released and the remaining amount would be paid under an agreed schedule.
The spokesman said the land was urgently needed for a second runway and the deal had been approved by the board of directors.
Meanwhile, the stone-laying ceremony of the new airport, which was expected to be performed jointly by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Dec 21-23, has been postponed.
Arrangements for the ceremony had been under way for about a month with the CAA and other departments concerned having set up their camp offices, but the President’s House said the president would not be free on the said dates.
http://www.dawn.com/.../12/15/nat4.htm
#14
CableModem26
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Posted 17 December 2006 - 04:30 AM
Azaadi, on Dec 16 2006, 09:50 PM, said:
We hope...
Thats the old drawing from way back in the early 90's... I doubt this is the current plan.
#15
Waqar
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Posted 17 December 2006 - 06:50 AM
CableModem26, on Dec 17 2006, 09:30 AM, said:
Thats the old drawing from way back in the early 90's... I doubt this is the current plan.
Yeh I hope so too ... I don't really like this design myself ..
#16
Jilawatan
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Posted 17 December 2006 - 10:24 AM
sher-e-lahore, on Dec 17 2006, 07:50 AM, said:
Yeh I hope so too ... I don't really like this design myself ..
I do not think it will be too bad but I think it can be improved with glass fascade.
#17
CableModem26
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Posted 17 December 2006 - 03:27 PM
Anything that gives you an open air experience, large, open and bright is what we should be looking for... That would be ideal for Islamabad which prides itself on the beauty of its environment... So a design which incorporates that enviromental beauty would be great.
#20
Jilawatan
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Posted 19 January 2007 - 05:29 PM
Fatehjang airport project put on back burner: New terminal at Chaklala soon
By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: The new international airport near Fatehjang does not seem to be an immediate priority, as the government has given go-ahead to the construction of an additional terminal at the existing airport in Chaklala to cater to domestic operations.
Formal approval to the project was giving by the Civil Aviation Board in its last meeting, a source told Dawn on Thursday.
The new terminal would be constructed adjacent to the flying club at a cost of about Rs400 million.
“Designs are being prepared for the new terminal,” the source said, adding that work on the project is likely to start in a couple of months.
Once the new terminal is constructed the existing premises would be used for international flights only. The present airport building can no longer cope with the growing passenger load and is virtually bursting at the seams. The recent renovations have also failed to handle the rush.
The plan to construct a new airport at Pind Ranjha near Fatehjang was conceived in the late 1980s to cater for the increased passenger load. However repeated postponements have brought the existing airport to a situation where it can no longer absorb the rising number of passengers.
Over congestion at the airport is impeding the entire process of passenger handling because of which chaotic scenes have become a norm. Even concourse hall and car parking area are packed to capacity most of the day.
The current annual turnover of passengers at the airport in Chaklala, constructed by modifying a 1948 airforce base hangar, is about 3.5 million.
It is estimated that the number of passengers at the airport is growing by 14 per cent annually compared to national air passenger growth rate of less than four per cent, making it one of the busiest airports in the country.
As many as 75 flights are being handled at the airport daily. In view of this situation, the Civil Aviation Authority had been asked to build an additional terminal at Chaklala and not wait for the new airport project to get underway.
The ground-breaking of the new airport, billed as the first greenfield airport in the country, was last postponed for the umpteenth time on December 21, 2006 without any reason.
Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal told the Senate on Wednesday that no new date had been fixed for ground-breaking of the $300 million airport project in Fatehjang.
Meanwhile, steps are being taken to improve flight handling, expeditious runway management and reducing runway occupancy time. Additionally, due to capacity limitations of the airport, no new slot is being given to the airlines in the morning.
www.dawn.com
By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: The new international airport near Fatehjang does not seem to be an immediate priority, as the government has given go-ahead to the construction of an additional terminal at the existing airport in Chaklala to cater to domestic operations.
Formal approval to the project was giving by the Civil Aviation Board in its last meeting, a source told Dawn on Thursday.
The new terminal would be constructed adjacent to the flying club at a cost of about Rs400 million.
“Designs are being prepared for the new terminal,” the source said, adding that work on the project is likely to start in a couple of months.
Once the new terminal is constructed the existing premises would be used for international flights only. The present airport building can no longer cope with the growing passenger load and is virtually bursting at the seams. The recent renovations have also failed to handle the rush.
The plan to construct a new airport at Pind Ranjha near Fatehjang was conceived in the late 1980s to cater for the increased passenger load. However repeated postponements have brought the existing airport to a situation where it can no longer absorb the rising number of passengers.
Over congestion at the airport is impeding the entire process of passenger handling because of which chaotic scenes have become a norm. Even concourse hall and car parking area are packed to capacity most of the day.
The current annual turnover of passengers at the airport in Chaklala, constructed by modifying a 1948 airforce base hangar, is about 3.5 million.
It is estimated that the number of passengers at the airport is growing by 14 per cent annually compared to national air passenger growth rate of less than four per cent, making it one of the busiest airports in the country.
As many as 75 flights are being handled at the airport daily. In view of this situation, the Civil Aviation Authority had been asked to build an additional terminal at Chaklala and not wait for the new airport project to get underway.
The ground-breaking of the new airport, billed as the first greenfield airport in the country, was last postponed for the umpteenth time on December 21, 2006 without any reason.
Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal told the Senate on Wednesday that no new date had been fixed for ground-breaking of the $300 million airport project in Fatehjang.
Meanwhile, steps are being taken to improve flight handling, expeditious runway management and reducing runway occupancy time. Additionally, due to capacity limitations of the airport, no new slot is being given to the airlines in the morning.
www.dawn.com