ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was informed Thursday that the construction of the New Islamabad International Airport would be completed by December 25 this year and start flight operations by July 30, 2017.
The PAC met under the chairmanship of Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah.
Members of the National Assembly, Sheikh Rohale Asghar, Raja Javed Ikhlas, Shahida Akhtar Ali, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Junaid Anwer Chaudhry, Shafqat Mahmood, Rana Afzaal, Naveed Qamar, Mian Abdul Manan, Secretary Science and Technology Fazal Abbas Maken, Secretary Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Irfan Elahi, Rector COMSATS Junaid Zaidi, Chairman High Education Commission (HEC) Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and senior official of the CAA attended the meeting.
Regarding the audit objection of the CAA for year 2013-14, it was informed that reviewed estimated cost of the new airport of Rs 81 billion will not exceed.
Director General Air Martial (R) CAA, Asim Salman informed the PAC that 88 percent work of the new airport had been completed and both the constructed runways were of international standard.
He said that modern landing system and lights had been installed at the new airport and all the equipments were brought on international standard.
To a question, Asim Salman said the project was facing several problems but it will be completed at any cost and 98 percent work of the passenger terminal building has been completed.
The official of the CAA informed that grid station on the airport was ready and the CAA has demanded 25 MW electricity from WAPDA.
He said that new airport had been designed to suffice the need of the 9 million people, adding that extension of the Lahore Airport was also in progress.
The official said that 30 contractors had shown interest in the project of Lahore Airport and a Spanish firm was designing it.
Khursheed Shah said that cost of the project had escalated from Rs 37 billion to Rs 74 billion that could increase even further if the project was delayed anymore.
The Project Director informed assured that cost of the project would not increase further.
The official said that the National Highway Authority (NHA) has started the construction of the link roads of the new airport.
He said that CAA has already launched work on a project to supply water to cope water from Raaman Dam to new airport and land acquisition was also in progress for constructing Kassana Dam.
