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.
Sheikh Rashid opined that the water supply from Shahpur Dam to the new airport was only viable option. The CAA official informed that due to a designing glitch, two planes would not be able to land simultaneously as both the runways had mutual distance of just 201 metres.
Khursheed Shah suggested the CAA to start direct Hajj flights from the Sukkur Airport. Secretary CAA Irfan Elahi said the authority will try its level best to start flights of 777 aircraft for Hajj operation from Sukkur.
Regarding the matter of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) and HEC, PAC formed a three member sub-committee to implement its early decision with the consultation of Secretary Science and Technology, Chairman HEC and Rector COMSATS.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that as per the PAC directive, the HEC reviewed the matter and decided that only HEC would verify the Pakistani degrees. He informed the body that 10 students have sued the university in the Lahore High Court demanding the award of both degrees.
Secretary Science and Technology said that COMSATS and the Ministry had no objection on joint transcript of Lancaster University, UK and COMSATS. Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that no foreign university could operate in Pakistan without permission of the HEC.
Khursheed Shah directed the Chairman HEC to implement the decision of PAC and both the institutions should withdraw their court cases. He said that negotiation would be initiated with the students to persuade them withdraw the cases.
