khaleejtimes.com
Appointment Times Classified Times Used Cars Gold / Forex
Economy
Preparing to double airports capacity
By Farooq Moin
AIRPORTS of Pakistan currently handle 15 million passengers per annum. This figure is projected to double in next five years. There is need to grow infrastructure, increase facilities and modernise communication, navigation and radar system in order to cope with increased air traffic. “Pakistan’s geographical location is big advantage. We have over 750 flights every 24 hours overflying our airspace, landing or taking off from 23 operational airfields. One aircraft is flying in our airspace every two minutes which is likely to double in next five years,” said Director General, Civil Aviation Authority CAA Pakistan Farooq Rahmatullah. In order to meet challenges of coming years CAA is enhancing its human resource capability.
A new system such as integrated ERP system is being put into place to make organisation more efficient, productive and cost effective. He said CAA’s profit increased from Rs 4.8 billion for calendar year 2006 to estimated Rs 8 billion in 2007. “Our business plan projections developed for the first time indicate by year 2012 CAA will earn profit of Rs30 billion. This sound financial health of CAA has put it in position where it can take projects like new Islamabad International Airport worth $500 million from its own resources.”
Farooq Rahmatullah
Calibration services
He said new aircraft are also being purchased which will cover 15 countries of this region by providing calibration services at competitive rates. CAA’s is also modernising its training institute at Hyderabad, upgrading and remodelling airports at Multan, Peshawar, besides upgrading, enhancing capacity of its radar system. Farooq Rahmatullah said draft of new national aviation policy will be presented to CAA Board at its next meeting shortly and later presented to the Prime Minister for approval. The existing aviation policy provides non level playing field and protects one airline which did not allow aviation sector to grow in the country and international airlines to come into Pakistan. It is very restrictive policy in frequency of flights. Air Services Agreements were signed with various countries but never negotiated on bilateral basis nor made it attractive for foreign carriers to come to Pakistan. People are deprived choice of airlines and destination they want to travel resulting in Gulf becoming hub and traffic diverted there. From Karachi one airline does not have flights to London on all seven days of week and passengers have to go to Dubai to catch onward flight. This has funnelled our traffic to Middle East making their airlines grow at cost of Pakistan,” he added.

Aviation policy
He said aviation policy should attract airlines to come into Pakistan, offer more flights, better choice for destinations to West and East. We want our national airlines be provided level playing field so that they are encouraged to increase their fleet. The draft new policy provides greater opportunity to investors in Pakistan to start small airstrips and helicopter service that connects rural hub with main cities. This will increase number of passengers who travel by air and industry grow in size.” Farooq Rahmatullah said CAA will in early 2008 launch Airport Cities at Karachi, Lahore and in due course at new Islamabad airport by providing five star hotels, shopping malls, conference centres, office buildings, residential apartments. Airport Cities will have special security arrangements. World class master planners have been engaged to design these Cities. DG CAA said: “we are proposing in draft policy fifth freedom rights be given to reputable airlines. By protecting PIA not done any service but weakened it (PIA). There is need for competition to improve service. Already some foreign carriers have shown interest to come to Pakistan. CAA’s landing, overflying, housing charges are cheaper on cumulative basis than Dubai. Also our fuel price in Karachi is cheaper by US 2-3 Cents as compared to Dubai.