ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a meeting, which reviewed the progress of New Islamabad International Airport. Secretary and DG Civil Aviation briefed the Prime Minister regarding completion of different stages of the project, a press release issued by PM’s Media Wing here said. Chairman NHA briefed the Prime Minister regarding the progress of metro project linking to New Islamabad International Airport.
Despite promises from the government to inaugurate the New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) on Independence Day this month, incomplete link roads mean that the project’s opening may be delayed by several months, again. This was revealed in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat last week.
Expressing dismay over the delays, the committee’s chairman said that poor planning on part of the National Highway Authority (NHA) was causing delays in the multi-billion-rupee project.
“The absence of link roads would cause huge financial losses to the government,” he told the media.
The project was meant to cost Rs32 billion when it was first planned in 2007. However, owing to poor planning the cost had now jumped to over Rs82 billion. However, the initial plans for the airport did not include funds for radars, lights and water supply.
The 97 per cent of construction work on the new airport has been completed and issues pertaining to gas, water and electricity supply have been resolved. Once completed, equipped with modern facilities, this airport would be the biggest airport in the country.
