ISLAMABAD: Collector Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhary has issued notification stating that as part of its austerity plan, customs department has banned VIP protocol given to influential people at New Islamabad International Airport (NNIA).
Assistant Collector Farheen Zehra while talking to Customs Today said that the decision is being implemented with immediate effect as the ministry of interior has directed all officials concerned of the to implement the order.
It is worth mentioning that such decisions had also been taken by previous governments but they could not implement them in a letter and spirit.
It had been observed that influential people were given VIP protocol at airports so that they could avoid standing in long queues and get cleared their luggage without any hustle. The VIP protocol was usually given to politicians, legislators, senior bureaucrats, judges, military officials and journalists.
The interior ministry has directed the customs and FIA that no government official or other VIPs would be given protocol at airports across the country.
According to the interior ministry, immigration counters at airports would be monitored and if any VIP was seen being given special treatment, the immigration staff and official in-charge of the shift would be immediately suspended.
Interestingly, all previous governments had decided to eliminate VIP culture at airports but there was a VIP lounge at Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad where VIPs and influential people sat in a luxurious atmosphere, meanwhile their luggage was get cleared by officials of FIA, Airport Security Staff or Civil Aviation Authority.
However, there is no such lounge available at the new Islamabad airport established near Fateh Jang where all passengers have to follow the normal procedure.
