New Islamabad airport to be ready by late July, PM told

Nawaz expected to inaugurate airport, Metro Bus link on August 14

ISLAMABAD: The New Islamabad Airport in Islamabad will be ready for operations by late July.

The facility will then be inaugurated by the prime minister on August 14.

During a high-level meeting to review progress on the new Islamabad Airport and its allied infrastructure at the PM House in Islamabad with officials of the Aviation Division, National Highway Authority (NHA), Islamabad Mayor, and other officials, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stated that infrastructure projects were the backbone of our economy and essential for the public.



Aviation Division secretary informed the PM that 95 per cent of the work on the airport’s terminal building has been completed while all civil work is expected to be completed by March 2017.

Thereafter, the facility will undergo extensive testing to conform to international standards. However, by July 2017, the airport would be ready for operations with a formal inauguration by the premier expected by August 14.

The premier was informed that the new airport would have a capacity to handle 4,500 passengers at a time with 15 parking bays and terminal gates. Moreover, the airport would be able to accommodate two A-380 aircrafts would be able to dock simultaneously. Further, the new airport would have state-of-the-art facilities such as cargo handling, safety and security, passenger facilitation and parking services.

With regards to allied infrastructure for the new airport, the NHA chairman said that the facility would be serviced through two main access road leading off from the M-1 and M-2 motorways. It would also have a road leading from the main GT Road (N-5).



Moreover, the airport can also be accessed through the Islamabad Metro from the Golra Mor. The PM will also inaugurate the new metro link along with the airport on August 14. Nawaz directed that no compromise should be made on the quality of work on the airport, access roads or the Metro Bus link. The prime minister was further informed that work on the new terminal at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore is expected to commence in March 2017.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2017.