- FIA prepares 70-page enquiry report, asks Interior Ministry to launch FIR against seven CAA accused
- IIAP official says over 90 percent work completed on new Islamabad International Airport (IIAP), will be operational by October 2016
Following the enquiry of “delay in construction of new Islamabad airport”, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to launch an FIR against seven officers of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
These officers have been found involved in delaying the construction of the new airport.
The FIA prepared 70-page detailed enquiry report and presented before the Interior Ministry, asking to launch FIR against accused. However, no formal orders or directions from ministry have been issued so far.
In the meanwhile, new Islamabad International Airport (IIAP) Civil Aviation Project Director Brig (r) Pervez Hayat Khan has said that more than 90 percent work on the new IIAP has been completed and the facility is expected to become operational in October 2016.
While briefing a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) led by its ICCI President Muzzamil Hussain Sabri Thursday, Khan said that the runways, roads, terminals etc were in final stage of completion and it has been developed as the state-of-the-art facility with three times more passengers handling capacity, four-storey terminals and 15 boarding bridges.
According to ICCI press statement, Khan said that around 99 percent work for laying transmission lines has been done and a 135MW grid station has also been built to provide electricity to the airport. He said the airport was located at an area of 3,300 acres with its length of 18.5 kilometres while feasibilities of three big dams were prepared to supply water to the facility, the statement added. He said the initial development cost of the project was estimated at Rs.38 billion, however, due to delays, its cost has increased to over Rs 85 billion.
Khan said businessmen were playing an important role in the economic development of the country and expressed the hope that the completion of this facility would give boost to business activities as it will promote trade and exports from this region.
Speaking on the occasion, Sabri appreciated the construction of a modern airport in Islamabad and said that a Facilitation Counter for businessmen should be established at the airport to provide them better services.
ICCI Founder Group Chairman Abdul Rauf said Civil Aviation should ensure capacity building of new airport staff, efficient management, installation of latest equipment and more runways to handle multiple flights at a time.