New Islamabad airport project yet to be launched

Infrastructure is a basic requirement for development and progress of the country. None has second opinion to its importance. Importance of infrastructure increases manifolds if it is related to the construction of airport and that too if for the capital of a country.
The significance of better infrastructure of airports was felt in Pakistan in 1988, when a high level meeting decided to take a number of initiatives in this regard.
It directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to upgrade two facilities - one at Lahore and other in Karachi, besides constructing a new international airport for Islamabad of world standard to provide the passenger the best travelling facility.
During the last one and half decades, the CAA successfully expanded facilities at Lahore and Karachi airports and introduced a new culture at these two airports. Pakistan can take pride of constructing beautiful terminal at Karachi airport, which is not second to any world modern airport facilities.
However, third project in the series - the new international Islamabad airport - is yet to be launched. Although the CAA has acquired land for the project but a basic question is that what would be the source of its funding and what nature of operation - is yet to be answered.
The new proposed Islamabad airport would be of extra ordinary importance for Pakistan as first ever-international airport to be developed at its own with all facilities.
It makes all the more important for Pakistan to take all the possible steps without any further delay to hire the services of international consultants to prepare the design of the project so that its completion becomes possible within shortest span of time.
It may be noted that Pakistan has a network of 35 airports across the country and all of them were designed and constructed before its independence. Though it expanded facilities to upgrade various facilities but yet to take pride of constructing any airport of international repute.
The delay in commissioning of the new Islamabad airport project is not in the national interest. It is more important for the CAA that it should take lead and come-up with a workable plan as was directed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to ensure that construction of the new Islamabad airport becomes a reality.
The existing Islamabad airport is not enough to cater the need of the capital and construction of the new facility would take eight years when the new airport facility would be needed desperately to meet the demand of the capital.
The CAA should decide that which of the three options - BoT, self-financing or credit - would be more feasible and in the best interest of the people and country.