ISLAMABAD – The Ministry of Defense on Wednesday told the Standing Committee of the Senate on Defense and Defense Productions that prior to permission of operating internationally, three years of domestic operation will be compulsory for private airlines.
“The three years domestic operation is an evaluative period as it will help the ministry to ascertain that a airline seeking permission of international operation is able to ensure the safety of the passengers, technical capability and aircrafts’ sustainability”, the additional secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mir Haider Ali told the committee.
He also said that process for permission had been simplified without leniency in rules. Mir Haider also told that PIA could not make contracts with any international airline about surrendering routes, as ministry’s approval was necessary for that. He added that media hype was created because the PIA and the Turkish airlines discussed certain issue pertaining to routes, which it should have avoided.
He further told that the ministry has initiated a probe into the death of a ninth class student who had died after falling from an aircraft. He said the ministry has received autopsy report of the boy’s death and the Joint Secretary would head the inquiry committee.
The committee was told that land for the Gawadar Airport has been acquired owing to litigation over the land. The ministry official said that the provincial government should be asked to resolve the dispute.
The committee decided to write a letter to the provincial government to resolve the issue. The committee was also told that keeping in view of the future growth and inadequacy of the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, a new airport was being constructed and it will have the capacity of 6.5 million passengers per annum and projected demand to handle 25 million passengers per annum.
The new airport will have environment friendly and state of the art facilities. The committee was further told that PC-1 amounting to Rs 4.098 billion was submitted by NHA to ministry of communications but it was sent back because of unavailability of funds.
