ISLAMABAD (Online) - The foundation stone ceremony of new Islamabad International Airport to be constructed at Fateh Jhang would be held on April 7.
According to the sources it is expected that President Pervez Musharraf or Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would attend the event.
Director Civil Aviation Authority Brig (Retd) Pervez Rashid has written a letter to Information Ministry regarding the details of the project and matters related to the inauguration of the ceremony.
The airport will be completed in three to four years and will facilitate the people of NWFP, FATA, the Northern Areas and AJK, along with the residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/mar-2007/26/nationalnews4.php

Hopefully this time it will be held. Pray for that........

i will believe it when i see it!

this project has been delayed so many times its a disgrace!

i will keep my eye out on April the 7th/8th to see if this has happened.

i dont know whats with the news reports or this opening cermony. My uncles own Bhatas close to the air port infact within 20km of the radius and its very frequently for them to go past the site of the air port, so when i asked my cousin abt it he said the air port is already under construction. there is machinery there and excavation work has already started on the site of the air port. Now i dont know if this news is ambigous or the information i have is wrong.

We were interest in buying quite large chunk of land around that area so we can obtain benifits of air port and future development but for some reason we didnt do it. But as far as i know the prices has doubled if not more than that since we visited the area the check the land, which was jan last year.

Maybe some1 from the area can shed some better light on it than this news report or the other reports we have recieved b4.

If we have problems building a small one terminal airport on time and can't keep our national airline in check for flying, then we have some serious problems.

New int'l airport to be built near Fateh Jang

AMRAIZ KHAN
LAHORE - Civil Aviation Authority CAA Pakistan will double the present space of Allama Iqbal International Airport’s AIIAP terminal building while foundation stone of a new international airport in Islamabad would be laid down on April 7, costing more than Rs 35 billions.
CAA North Zone Regional Director Brig ® Pervez Bashir informed this while addressing a press conference here at AIIAP on Thursday. CAA Public Relation Officer Kamran Malik and AIIAP Acting Airport Manager Muhammad Arshad Malik were also present on the occasion.
Pervez said that the airport, yet to be named, would be constructed near Fateh Jang district and it would be situated on the land of Fateh Jang and Attock land simultaneously. He said that it would be the biggest airport of the country equipped with the latest technology. President General Pervez Musharraf has shown interest in laying foundation stone of the airport, he added. He said that the prime minister and the president would name the new airport, which would be constructed on complete self-finance basis born by CAA.
He maintained that the newly designed airport would be expanded on 3700 acres land out of which 90 per cent land had been acquired by the CAA. Pervez said that NHA would construct roads of the airport, adding that the airport would be the concept of airport city in which two runways, terminal building, cargo village, hotels, shopping malls, expo centre and grid station etc would be included.
He was of the view that only ground levelling of the site would take one and a half-year and it would cost about Rs 1.5 billion.
The regional director further said that the new airport would be operational by four years and the CAA authorities had fenced the area of 18 km for the security purpose. He said consultancy for the project was being hired from an American firm. He revealed that the terminal building of the airport would be used from the two sides for the parking of aircrafts and 20 to 25 planes could be parked at the same time on the proposed airport.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/mar-2007/30/bnews2.php

April 07, 07 is coming, let's pray for the ground breaking of airport as per their statement. Now they are saying that a new railway station will also be built near it, as per railway minister on Thursday.

bheenchod this airport is never going to be made it was delayed last time because of "Rain"

hopefully this time it wont be delayed because of wind.

Does the first word in your sentence refer to the airport, or the guys above your response, or the situation?

I suspect its the situation but go easy here buddy, no need for bad words. Appreciate it.



What about the Sun? Its already getting pretty hot out in the Sun over there. You don't want PM or the President to be out there in the heat, do you? How inconsiderate...

true bro, how inconsiderate of me, better pray for a weatherless day.

It actually happened!


http://www.dawn.com/2007/04/07/welcome.htm


President Musharraf performs ground-breaking of modern airport


PIND RANJHA, April 7 (APP) President Pervez Musharraf Saturday performed the ground-breaking of a US $400 million modern airport project, saying that it would prove as a step forward to turn Pakistan into a major regional hub for trade, tourism and communication.

The President unveiled the plaque for new a international airport, to be located 30km south-west of Islamabad. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Director General Civil Aviation Authority, Air Marshal Salim Arshad and other senior officials were present on the occasion. (Posted @ 14:51 PST)

todays daily The News (islamabad issue)says that it ll be inagurated today by musharf. lets see wat hapens

http://www.brecorder.com/


President performs ground-breaking of airport near Islamabad


PIND RANJHA (updated on: April 07, 2007, 16:13 PST): President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday performed the ground-breaking of a US $400 million modern airport project, saying that it would prove as a step forward to turn Pakistan into a major regional hub for trade, tourism and communication.

The president unveiled the plaque for a new international airport, to be located 30km south-west of Islamabad.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Director General Civil Aviation Authority, Air Marshal Salim Arshad and other senior officials were present on the occasion.

President Musharraf said Pakistan would serve as a communication hub for Central Asia, western China, India and other regional countries and would generate extensive economic activities.

He hoped that the new airport would be one of the best airports in Asia and congratulated the designers and workers on the initiation of this huge project.

He stressed for giving priority to the locals in terms of employing staff for the project.

He urged the Civil Aviation Authority to try to complete the project before the stipulated time of 36 months and said the airport's design should reflect the country's national, cultural and historical heritage.

He said there should also be holistic and futuristic thinking on suggesting the name for the new airport. He said a number of names were being floated, however it was up to the prime minister and his cabinet to decide.

Musharraf said the old airport in Islamabad was unable to cater to the growing needs of passengers and cargo.

He said the new airport would be located in an area that had been the cradle of Buddhist civilisation and centre of Sikhism, thus also to facilitate the religious tourists.

The president referred to the government's plan for developing the infrastructure of the country to serve as an energy corridor.

The president stressed for increasing communication structure in the country including rail, road, ports and airports.

He said Gwadar was also being linked to the Central Asian states through road and rail networks.

Musharraf said the country's economy witnessed unprecedented boom in past seven years. There has been 500 percent increase in the Foreign Direct Investment during this tenure and the FDI rose from 399 million dollars in 1999 to US 3.4 billion dollars last year.

The president said next target for FDI had been set at US$ 6 billion.

Musharraf rejected criticism against the privatisation process in the country and cited the example of sale of 10 percent share of OGDC for US$ 811 million.

He said five to six years back, no one ever paid US$ 500 million for the company.

Musharraf said the government was working on a multi-billion rupees project to provide safe drinking water to the people.

He said the government was working on a comprehensive water management strategy to construct canals, dams and bricklining of watercourses to meet the needs of 60 percent of the agrarian population of the country.

President Musharraf said under the safe drinking water project, filtration plants would be installed at every Union Council initially and later be extended to every village with 100 houses or more.




Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2006

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=5475...m=&supDate=


New Islamabad airport costs surge to $650 million

ARIF RANA


ISLAMABAD (April 07 2007): The cost for new Islamabad International Airport has increased from $350 million in 2005 to $650 million in 2007 and those abreast with the cause of escalation believe that at the end of the day project will cost $800 million to the nation.

The increase in cost even today is Rs 18 billion at 1=60 dollar/ rupee exchange rate. President General Pervez Musharraf is going to perform groundbreaking of this mega project but without a detailed engineering design on April 7.

Sources said Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had awarded a Rs 1.5 billion contract of levelling and grading of the land to M/s Hussnain & Co, a Lahore-based construction company, a year back and work is already in progress.

But CAA is yet to hire a consultant for detailed engineering design of the project. Even a lay man can understand that a detailed engineering design is pre requisite to start with an important project like the new Islamabad International Airport.

The purpose of levelling and grading work without detailed engineering design appears to be ensuring groundbreaking for the airport project with the given timeframe.

Sources said CAA had advertised for hiring a consultant for detailed engineering design sometime back and after going through the initial work it's negotiating with CPG- an Australian company- presently engaged with Singapore Authority for the similar job. The experts say the CAA will get the detailed engineering design ready for the project in 8 to 10 months after the award of the contract.

Probably, for the same reason CAA is hinting at start of construction work of the project in 2008. It perhaps does not include grading and levelling in construction work. The CAA estimates of Rs 38 billion for cost of the project, which according to its work plan, will complete in 3-4 years, is also indicative of the concerned authorities perplexity.

The project of constructing a green field Islamabad International Airport was conceived in 1988, by the then president Ziaul Haq, but it could not take-off due to CAA and other departments' indecisiveness. The past events and developments indicate that the concerned authorities kept on changing mode of work and procedure of award of contract for years.

They offered the project to the private sector sometimes on BOO and sometimes on BOT basis but each time the decision was reversed for the reasons known to those who delayed it for 19 years that multiplied its cost besides depriving Islamabad from an airport of the world standard.


Copyright Business Recorder, 2007

Finally everybody prays are granted. Good news. They are also planning a new railway station near it , this is also a benefit to northern areas.

New Islamabad airport not a flying start http://dawn.com/2007/04/07/nat11.htm

By Syed Irfan Raza

ISLAMABAD, April 6: Rumours about irregularities have started flying long before any aircraft could from the New Islamabad Airport to be built near Fatehjang. Dawn learnt on the eve of the groundbreaking ceremony, likely to be performed by President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday, that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) set aside the requirements of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 in purchasing recently some 500 kanals of extra land directly from a retired military officer.

Sources in the CAA were wondering aloud why this additional piece of land, if really needed, was not bought in 1985 when the rest of the land was bought for the project.

Apparently the difference between the price paid then and now answers the why. In 1985 the landowners got between Rs300 and Rs1,500 per kanal. Today the retired officer was paid Rs500,000 per kanal.

CAA’s Senior Estate Officer Fahim Khattak, when approached, refused to comment on the issue. “We have been directed not to respond to the media. Only the project director Brig Masood Salam can issue such statements,” he said.

Despite repeated efforts the project director could not be contacted.

CAA sources said under the aviation rules the CAA was bound to follow the Land Acquisition Act 1894.

The Act lays down a set procedure of acquisition of land, including publishing a notice in the press about the land to be acquired, announcement of the award to compensate the land holders, calling of objections from the stakeholders and finally the award of compensation.

But no such procedure was followed in purchasing the additional land in the Rs250 million deal.

In the recent past CAA’s Planning and Development Division (P&DD) had objected to the demand for an amount of Rs2.6 billion for purchase of additional land for the proposed new airport and also to the extension in the approval period of Rs100 million by failing of fulfil the conditions of physical and financial progress on the project.

Meanwhile, non-availability of water at the site is stated to be one of the main problems confronting the CAA in constructing the new airport.

It refered to the current state of affiars reguarding the airport but I take my words back since now it has happeneds.

Cant belive its done well better late than never now lets get the construction under way ASAP

New airport near Islamabad to serve as communication hub: PM

PIND RANJHA (updated on: April 07, 2007, 20:15 PST): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said the new international airport will be the most modern one in Asia and will emerge as a symbol of "Rising Pakistan".

Addressing a ground-breaking ceremony of the $400 million project at the outskirts of the federal capital, the prime minister said the mega project would be another milestone in the government's massive efforts for the country's development.

The prime minister said the new airport would be turned into a communication hub for Central Asian states with regular feeder for the neighbouring countries.

He said Islamabad would also serve as a centre for international conferences, seminars and events, while a number of hotels and allied facilities were being constructed for the purpose.

The new airport would also help the country to meet its tourist potential as the place has been the seat of Gandhara civilisation, besides serving as a gateway to the country's picturesque northern areas, he added.

He said the new airport would also create numerous job opportunities and generate economic activities.

http://www.brecorder.com/

New airport to cost $400m http://dawn.com/2007/04/08/top12.htm

FATEH JANG, April 7: The New Islamabad International Airport inaugurated by President Gen Pervez Musharraf in Fateh Jang on Saturday will be built at a cost of $400 million.

It would be the first green-field airport in the country and would have state-of-the-art facilities, maximum passenger comfort and convenience, incorporating international construction standards and reflecting the cultural heritage of Pakistan.

The design of the airport would help handle an annual traffic of 6.5 million passengers and 100,000 metric tons of cargo. It will help make Pakistan a trade and energy corridor for the regional countries through a network of roads.—PPI

Two runways of new airport to be used simultaneously

ISLAMABAD: The project director for the new Islamabad international airport, Masood Salam, has said that two runways will be built at the airport and they would be used simultaneously.

He said the structure of the airport building would be of an international standard. The airport will be the biggest in the country and will have modern facilities.

Salam said 3,200 acres of land has been acquired for the airport and an additional 400 acres is in the process of being acquired for the second runway. The airport is being constructed on Tarnol-Fateh Jang Road and is being designed to meet the future requirements of the twin cities. He said the terminal building of the airport would be built in the centre so that the two runways could be used simultaneously.

Salam said the construction of the new airport would boost economic activity in the area as the construction plan includes the setting up of business centres, hotels, motels, an expo-centre and plazas, adding that the project would be completed under the supervision of a foreign company. He said the country does not presently have the experience and expertise required for the construction of an airport but the Pakistan Engineering Council has suggested that 30 percent of the constructors and consultants working on the project be Pakistanis. This will allow Pakistani companies to develop skills that can be used for future projects.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...0-4-2007_pg11_7

$400 million that isnt aot of money for a airport, Tehran international cost around $1 billion and that doesnt include the mono-rail connection system. I am sure the price will go up after construction starts because $400 million isnt alot for a new advanced airport. I hope it is of high standard.

Finally ... successive govts. have kept on talking about this since ages .. also due to internal politics the location kept changing !

Alas .. another milestone achieved ... the question is will the projected construction schedule respected ! or else the project cost will sky rocket !

It could be that the cost of materials, equipment and labor was higher in Iran than in Pakistan. And you are right its going to go up significantly by the time its done. Maybe the same case was with Tehran's airport.

finally...

i'm still not celebrating though, i'm going to wait till we actually open the damn airport for business.

this airport is an embarrasment to our country. look at the designs for the airports in bangalor and new delhi. they'll have rail connections at the ariport, connected hotels, multiple terminals. the fact that we still don't have an engineering consultant for the project speaks volumes. clearly, we are not yet "rising".

Give it time! Pia is in the dumps due to Mr. Karmani, someone who had no concept of Business Administration, in his term he handed pink slips to several senior skilled personell within the company, our engineering facilities are amongst the best in south east asia, we repair craft for malaysia and bangladesh, and do not think Pakistan's fleet is ancient.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has seen most of its fleet banned from operating within the European Union (EU), according to published reports. Reuters reports that PIA operates 16 flights per week to seven EU countries, and its flights to the U.K. were among the most profitable in the carrier's system.

Reuters and others say that the ban, will permit PIA to fly its 777s within the EU, but its other, older planes will be banned. (If you're assuming the rest of PIA's fleet is a bunch of flying relics from less-than-stellar OEMs, think again.)

PIA is one of few carriers on the EU's banned-carriers list that hails from a country labeled Category 1 ("does comply with ICAO standards") on FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessments program assessment list.

Here is a official clarrification from PIAC:



Karachi, February 24, 2007: This concerns a news item appearing in a section of press quoting unknown EU sources from Brussels stating that they plan to disallow some of PIA flights to EU destinations in view of certain technical concerns. The remaining flights however shall continue to operate.

The factual position is detailed below for benefit of our valued readers:

The Air Safety Committee of European Union visited Pakistan during 12-16 February, 2006 and held professional – cum – technical consultations with PIA management. The consultation subject primarily concerned technical upkeep, airworthiness and well kept interior of Asian countries aircraft operating on European destinations. The committee expressed its satisfaction over PIA aircraft all operational and professional issues. It was followed by another meeting in Brussels during 21-23 February 2007.
Pakistan was represented by professional and technical experts from Public Sector Aviation Industry (PIA and CAA) wherein PIA put forth a range of operational data before Air Safety Committee of European Union to their satisfaction in terms of PIA aircraft technical fitness, airworthiness and other cabin specific up keep/maintenance issues. The committee appreciated PIA’s efforts towards maximization of its aircraft excellent maintenance standards and airworthiness. The committee however counseled PIA to modernize its fleet age according to latest technological advancement. Necessary refurbishment of PIA’s old aircraft is also in the pipeline as per EU standards.
PIA is unaware of any reported ban on its aircraft operations to EU destinations and is in constant touch with the concerned EU authorities besides seeking to fully protect PIA’s interest.
It may relevantly be mentioned that since 2004 PIA Engineering Department has been approved by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) under their Part-145 regulations, which are considered the most modern aviation maintenance/safety standards. Currently PIA Engineering undergoes Quality Surveillance Audits by EASA Auditors twice every year. During past 50 years PIA Engineering has not only performed Heavy and Light Maintenance on foreign registered Aircraft under its international approval but also has supported many reputed Airlines in the establishment of their Engineering facilities.
PIA has been operating its aircraft with average age of 21 years which now reduced to 12 years by May 2007. PIA Engineering is concentrating more on Airworthiness and Safety issues of a segment of its fleet. PIA aircraft also operate on destinations in Europe where they undergo safety inspections by SAFA Inspectors (Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft Programmed). The principles of the program are simple and being implemented for all foreign (Non-European) Airlines landing at European airports.

http://www.piac.com.pk/PIA_About/pr_24Feb07.asp

There is a model shown in this Video of the new islamabad Airport. It was shown during the inauguration by General Musharraf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPgw1vRHtG0

It looks quite nice!

So what will happen to the old Rawalpindi airport.
Will it remain in service for Rawalpindi or it'll be just military air base.

I think it will be just like Shahria Fasial Base Karachi.

it'll just go back to being PAF Chaklala and the home of the PAF's transport and VIP fleet.

There are multiple possibilities but I think it will be used as a secondary backkup airport.Alternatively, it could be used by the flight school too.

waste of money if you ask me. Not enough population for two airports. An airport somewhere else like jhelum would have served way bigger population and defence purposes. One of biggest cants of pakistan are located in kharian and then there is mangla dam and then bridges at jhelum river, cant in jhelum, then kharian, jhelum, mirpur has one of the biggest population working in foreign countries. hell mirpur is built on UK pound (people use pounds there like a regular currency).

plus directing some of the air trafic will boost the economy in these areas. but apparently our planners think Islamabad needs a new air port :(

Yes, airports should be made there too but Islamabad is long overdue its own airport. The one currently used is inadequate to handle the capacity of people travelling through it. Also, the development plans for the future make a new airport in Islamabad a necessity.

bro have you seen the islamabad airport? i'd feel ashamed knowing that as more and more foriegn investors come to visit us we still show them a third-class terminal and facilities. impressions matter, esp. when your talking about your capital city.

I don't like the fact that it is 26 km away from islamabad. It will take about 30 to 40 min to go there.

Now in the islamabad area there are 4 locations where planes can land. You have the rawalpindi airport, you have the chaklala airbase, there is a runway near the sports complex (strange!) and this new airport.

Rawalpindi airport and Chaklala airbase are one and same and there is no other airport for Islamabad. Only Dhamehal is near but that is for Army aviation.

I really hate pakistan airports, lahore and islamabad..

As soon you arrive in pakistan airports, too many shouting from the staffs, people don't line up stright.... suitcase has to be re-checked again.. very noisy environment at airport car park..

suitcase-guys begging you to hold the trolly for you as a servant..

I am hoping new islamabad airport will be good like manchester airport.. professional wise.

The first two are the same, the third is a heli-pad, and the fourth is the true airport.

It is not a helipad but Army avaition base, light aircraft landing and helicopter overhauling facilities.