IIA runway develops cracks after rains

The aviation minister has decided to inform Prime Minister Imran Khan that the Islamabad International Airport (IIA) management is not breathing a word about the problems emerging after recurrent rains.

The recent monsoon spell has left behind its marks on IIA’s runways as they have cracked from several spots, The Express Tribune learnt through sources.

Meanwhile, the Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had decided to inform Prime Minister Khan that he was kept uninformed by the IIA management about the dripping ceilings of the airport and the damaged runways.

A day before the video of falling false-ceiling and dripping roof went viral, Sarwar was at IIA to cut the Independence Day cake. The management had made emergency arrangements to hide the bad spots so that the minister and media could not see the real picture of the airport.

Sources added that the minister would submit a detailed report on this in the next meeting of the federal cabinet.

Due to political reasons, the project, that was supposed to be completed in 2009, was inaugurated in 2018. Until then the cost of the project surged by almost 100 per cent to Rs125 billion.

Earlier, when the project was approved in 2006, only two runways were suggested to be built. But, when they were constructed, the absence of a significant distance between them forced the construction of another runway. As much as Rs13 billion were allocated for it. However, the tale of incompetency continued and one end of the runway ended near the catchment area of two mini dams built for storing water for the airport.

Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other related institutions have launched inquiries into alleged irregularities which delayed the construction of the international airport for over a decade.

The incidents of dripping ceilings and breaking of floor tiles have raised serious questions on the built-quality of the airport.

When The Express Tribune contacted the aviation minister, he confirmed that he would ‘complain’ about the IIA’s management to the premier. He told that he learnt through a lawmaker about the cracks on the runway after recent rainfall. He lamented that the IIA management kept him uninformed about it. Sarwar said that he was not even informed regarding the dripping ceilings of the airport after cloudbursts before August 14.

“I visited the site after the Independence Day ceremony at IIA after which the paperwork started,” Sarwar said.

Therefore, the minister confirmed that he would bring all issues in the notice of Prime Minister Khan and that he has prepared a detailed report on it as well.

Sources asserted that big changes in the IIA’s management are expected after the next meeting of the federal cabinet.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2020.