Socio-political circles have urged the government and high ups of the Civil Aviation to adopt "Open Sky" policy for ensuring more domestic and international flights from Sialkot International Airport. The Sialkot international Airport was being treated step motherly and despite of promises of concerned quarters nothing has been done practically in this regard so far.
Undoubtedly, there is great need of airport in Gwadar to facilitate the investors as well as catering the needs of Gwadar port. Why the concerned authorities are reluctant to implement its Open Sky policy for Sialkot?
At present Sialkot International Airport, which is first of its kind in the Asia and a unique precedent, of private sector for accomplishment of this mega project totally on self-help basis. At present Pakistan International Airline (PIA) is operating its flights for Karachi, Muscat and Abu Dhabi from Sialkot International Airport profitably. It is worth mentioning that almost all international flights are fully packed and tickets are not available for next three months.
Apart from this Qatar Airline was operating its cargo flights from Sialkot airport successfully but unfortunately PIA has done nothing practically in this regard. The business community especially the exporters of the area had always patronised the national carrier (PIA) and keen to extend their full support and co-operation for making PIA successful in the area.
The efforts of business community of this export-oriented city were highly laudable for showing commitment and unity on the completion mega project of Sialkot International Airport on self-help basis. It is high time at President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Defence Minister should intervene into the matter and direct the concerned authorities especially PIA and Civil Aviation for operating maximum domestic and international flights from Sialkot International Airport to facilitate the general public, overseas Pakistanis and business communities of Sialkot, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Daska, Narowal, Jhelum and Mirpur Azad Kashmir. According to available statistics PIA is lifting 50 to 60 tons of cargo daily and it is expected that regular flights would help PIA in lifting 70 to 80 tons of cargo from Sialkot daily while 1300 passengers are daily travelling from Sialkot.
It may be mentioned that mega project of Sialkot International Airport has been completed at a cost of Rs 2.6 billion has a great significance because it was totally finance by the private sector and so far private sector had not built a project of this magnitude and size in the country even in South Asia. This modern and professionally designed airport had been undertaken on Build, Own and Operate basis and has been developed over 1004 acres of land and fully equipped for handling B 747-400, A300 and 737 aircraft.
Most modern apron having the parking capacity for six wide-bodies aircrafts or three airbus plus F-27 aircrafts had been constructed at the airport. Besides, 3600 meter long, 45 meter wide taxiway had been constructed while longest international stand runway of the country measuring 3.6 KM has been constructed, which will cater the requirements of all aircrafts used for international and domestic cargo and passenger traffic sources added.
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