President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to carry out a study on constructing two new all-weather international airports in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
“The president has directed CAA to carry out a study for the construction of the Chilas International Airport,” confirmed CAA spokesperson Pervez George on Thursday. He added that studies for constructing another international airport in Mirpur in AJK are also being conducted.
According to CAA officials, the authority has already started paperwork for constructing a new international airport in Chilas in order to facilitate G-B residents and attract tourists to the region. Though Chilas already has a small airport, no passenger airline operates from there currently.
CAA Director General (DG) Capt (retd) Nadeem Khan Yousafzai has also visited Mirpur and met with local administration officials for constructing another international airport there. The AJK government has promised complete assistance for the task.
Officials said physical work on the two proposed airports will start by the end of 2014. After their construction, there will be over 141 airfields, both civil and military, in Pakistan. CAA oversees all civil airports in the country, apart from Sialkot International Airport which is owned and operated by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (9)
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@Jibran Khan:
Government makes promises when election are comming in the future. look at islamabad airport they made new city long ago without airport. Now they realized that they need modern airport that could control traffic and airways.
Pakistan needs to invest in education and transport communication. THis will bring revolution to pakistan and awake pakistan from slumber.
Province government should develope their regions to international standards at human development index.
that could happen if we hire non corrupt people at government offices.
only one air port is not enough for GB according to population.
A good idea...Please materialize these projects timely. I suggest there should be 2 state airlines for GB and Azad Kasmir
Some two years back, the then PM of Pakistan Mr. Gellani visited the GB and promised that the existing airports in Gilgit & Skardu will be converted to international airports. No progress yet. There is lack of sincerity on government's side. The people of Gilgit Baltistan are suffering due to lack of by air and by land route facilities. Flights are being cancelled frequently due PIA's inefficiency and by road travel is not safe.
The government said it is going to build gilgit & skurdu as international airport long ago. Now we have two new airports coming into gilgit & ajk.
That is great idea!
The existing airport is not enough for the gilgit people. One day their region will be connected to international airports.
The region has potential for tourism, we should upgrade to a larger terminal. if we leave older airports as it is. then large cities will not look attractive to prospective for traveler's.
An airport in Mirpur has been talked of for a long time but little action taken. The fact that studies are now being conducted in the regions is a positive step at last. Even a small airport would suffice, it would greatly contribute to the local economy and strengthen links around the world. My personal thanks to Ch.Majeed (AJK Prime Minister) for forwarding and pressing this issue right to the top of Pakistan government, can only hope the quoted timescales are realistic and set to be achieved.
Instead of opening international airports all over the place, why not improve the ones we have already and provide better transit or connecting flights from there ? A direct flight from Islamabad to say Mirpur would be a much more efficient use of resources.