PIA, CAA demands unjustified: minister

Newly repaired runway at Lahore airport inaugurated

LAHORE:

Federal Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday observed that the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were only making demands against their performance that was nowhere close.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the newly repaired runway at the Lahore airport, the minister said those who worked hard would reap its benefits. However, he warned that underachievers had no place in the departments under his ministry.

The minister added that the previous governments had benefitted its people to a great extent.
Rafique claimed that he had no role in the PIA “illegal” appointments. “We will appoint people based on merit and then it will be their responsibility to perform well,” he added.

The minister said the PIA would have to work really hard for the next four to five years to be on its feet. He stressed the importance of departments supporting each other for the sake of coordination. The minister said efforts were under way to have the international routes opened for the PIA.

The national carrier landed in hot water in the wake of its flight PK8303 crashing in Karachi on May 22, 2020, and the subsequent announcement by then aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan of the grounding of 262 airline pilots suspected of dodging their exams.

Rafique vowed that flights to the UK and US would be resumed soon. He said an investment to the tune of Rs5 billion would be made in the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore in the next five years. The minister maintained that counters of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Customs at the country’s airports were short on staff.

He added that he would speak with the FIA director general so that this problem could be sorted out to facilitate passengers. He further said he was aware of the problems faced by the Airports Security Force (ASF). Rafique said Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore was one of the most significant and busiest ones in the country.

He added that the government, the PIA and CAA in particular, were reviewing the Lahore airport's infrastructure to improve it. The minister said the PIA had been provided with funds to replace the seats of five Airbus planes.

He further said a Boeing-777 plane, which was grounded for almost a year, would become operational from Saturday. Rafique said the upgrading work of the runway at the Karachi airport would be started this year. “Gilgit, Chitral and Skardu airports would further be modernised. Work is under way on the Sukkur and Dera Ismail Khan airports so that they could be given international status,” he added.

The minister said he had been told that the alternative of Walton airport, which was being constructed in Muridke, would become operational by January next year. He added that Gwadar’s new airport would become fully operational by September 2023. “Work on Quetta and Faisalabad airports is under way and their runways will be completed this year,” the minister elaborated.

Rafique further said two Boeing-777 aircraft would also be refurbished. “This will take six to eight months and  require a lot of money,” he claimed. The minister added that four more new planes were being added to the existing fleet and old aircraft were being refurbished so that they could be used.

The CAA has opened the newly repaired runway at the Lahore airport. The runway, 36R, was closed for repairs for over two years. The old runway, 36L, was opened for flights during this time. All domestic and foreign airlines have been informed about the opening of the  runway.

The CAA has issued a notification about it. The secondary runway will also continue to function.
As per the CAA, jumbo planes will be able to land on the newly renovated runway.

(With input from APP)