“We are involving the private sector into projects like parking lots, restaurants and shops, which are already outsourced," said Shujaat Azeem. PHOTO: INP
“We are involving the private sector into projects like parking lots, restaurants and shops, which are already outsourced. But, this time we will bring in reputable multinational firms to manage these,” he said, a day after union of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) protested over alleged privatisation of airports.
CAA’s Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) on Monday threatened to suspend operations at leading airports if government took steps to hand over airports to private managers.
It also asked the Aviation Division to do away with a proposal to move the headquarters of CAA to Islamabad from Karachi.
Azeem says shifting is aimed at strengthening coordination between various departments to expedite renovation of airports and does not involve key departments like regulatory affairs.
“We are only moving the department related to works. We are moving fast on renovation of airports in north like the one in Faisalabad,” he said.
He also referred to reports about transfer of CAA Training Institute, which is located in Hyderabad, to Islamabad.
The Aviation Division has come under scathing criticism for spending Rs9 billion on Multan International Airport without taking into account its low aircraft traffic.
But Azeem said that was a misconception. Authorities have asked all domestic airlines to start operations from Multan. “We want to make Multan a hub in south Punjab.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2015.
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