ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat Thursday asked Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to increase the number of flights from Karachi to Quetta as people are facing inconvenience.
The meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat held here on Thursday under the Chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood while Senators including Shahi Syed, Hidayat Ullah, Kalsoom Parveen, Haji Saif Ullah khan Bangash, officials from Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (OGRA) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) attended the meeting.
The Senate Body said that the present number of flights for Quetta are not sufficient as compared to the number of passengers. More flights should be started on regular basis to facilitate maximum people.
PIA officials assured the committee to increasing the flights for Quetta on priority basis. PIA officials informed the committee that eight new aircraft would be included in PIA while number of functional aircraft would reached to 38.
Joint Secretary of Cabinet informed the committee that experience is most imperative for technical appointments in OGRA whereas high qualification is not necessary for their posts. To a question, he replied that the post of member ogra is a technical post, Senator Shahi Syed said that government should ensure the equal presentation of all provinces in OGRA.
Shahi Syed questioned about charging high rates of gas even in gas producing regions and the difference rates of GST in all provinces was also a question mark.
The post of member oil is vacant from last two years. Secretary CAA Irfan Elahi informed the committee that the construction work of Ramma and Kasana Dams would be completed in stipulated time.
Irfan Elahi said that Kasana Dam is being constructed on the area of 625 acres and Rs 1500 million had been allocated. New Islamabad Airport would meet the international standard and have capacity to facilitate over 45 million passenger per annum, The Senate body expressed its reservation about private housing society near to the New Islamabad Airport.
The Senate body asked that all the stakeholder should present in the next meeting of the body to address the concern of the committee.
To a question, CAA official informed the body that new Islamabad Airport would be completed with the cost of Rs. 90 billion and likely to be inaugurated on August 14, 2017.
The Senate committee also appreciated the good efforts and arrangement of Airports Security Force on all airports of the country with the latest technology and well equipments, vehicles and Dragoons B7+.
The body also recommended ASF to review about the extra gate which were built unnecessary points and adding that slum areas around Airports are big threats and facility for the terrorists. The body has also given the suggestion to the ASF officials to depute senior person on airports for the security because sometime newly inducted personnel were not well trained with the high profile personalities.
DG ASF also said that facing the shortage of security staff, because the requirement is around 250,00 and we have only 10000 security staff.
