KARACHI – The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is arbitrarily delaying starting construction of an airstrip in Islamkot, Tharparkar district, aimed at facilitating foreign investors to reach Thar coalfields by air. Despite the fact that the Sindh government had released Rs 315 million to the CAA last year, the authority has not spent even a single paisa for the airstrip’s construction.
The provincial government had approved the location of the airstrip with a total cost of Rs 972.07 million. The CAA was tasked to undertake the construction and maintenance of the airstrip. The Sindh government and the CAA had signed a memorandum of understanding in April last year to establish the airstrip in Islamkot for facilitating foreign investors and developing the vast reserves of Thar coalfields.
The authority sought a no-objection certificate from the General Headquarters as the location of the proposed airstrip is 80 kilometres away from the international border in Tharparkar district. The Sindh Finance Department had released Rs 315 million to the CAA for initiating the development work on immediate basis. The authority is supposed to complete constructing the airstrip by June this year.
Initially, the Pakistan International Airlines would operate the chartered general aviation craft flight. The airstrip would also be utilised by the military, as well as for local use when Thar coalfields start generating electricity. In a review meeting held on December 28 last year, the Sindh Coal and Energy Development Department secretary had expressed concern over the slow progress of the scheme.
The performance of the consultant was also discussed, particularly with reference to the report received from the Works and Services Department (W&SD) about the performance of the lowest bidder. The consultant responded by saying that it was decided in a meeting on December 2 that ECIL would receive a report on the performance of the three lowest bidders of the project from the W&SD, and arrange physical verification of machines and other equipment of the bidders to assess their manpower and capability.
It was also decided that the consultant would analyse the rates of the major items mentioned in the bill of quantities from the lowest bidder for assessing reasonability of the same.
