Civil Aviation’s rating dogged by poor performance

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Civil Aviation performance rate is 0.3 per cent as compared to the world.

This was told in the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation meeting held on Thursday.

While discussing the issues of the deteriorating conditions of the airports, the lack of proper services, the malfunctioning of the wash room equipment and other maintenance facilities, Senator Saleem Mandviwala expressed disappointment with the performance of Aviation.

The committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Hidayat Ullah The committee believed that a revamp is required for the aviation.

The committee discussed the questions raised by Senator Naseebullah Bazai and Bahramand Khan Tangi, regarding details of posting, service group, and the incumbent DG Civil Aviation Authority.

The secretary Aviation said that the information pertaining to previous service record of the DG CAA needs to be obtained from the Establishment Division as the same is the competent forum for posting of the PAS officers.

“Posting policies have changed with the changing governments,” the secretary stated, while expressing that making policies and their enforcement is the mandate of the federal government.

The chairman committee directed to seek views from the Establishment Division in the next meeting and sought record of the officer.

Matter pertaining to the issue of transfer of 123 –kanal and 16 marla piece of land out of 4,023–kanal and one marla to its co-owners taken by the CAA for the construction of Islamabad International Airport was also discussed in detail.

The committee was informed by the CAA authorities that the request for exclusion of an area measuring 123 kanals and 16 marlas was agreed to by the CAA and accordingly, by the deputy commissioner Rawalpindi was requested to move the case for surrendering of above mentioned area with the concerned authority i.e., Board of Revenue Punjab, Lahore.

Later the IIAP was examined and re–evaluated by the concerned CAA’s functionaries as the master plan of the IIAP project has been revised due to a proposal of a third runway.

The committee was informed that the land is also essentially required for smooth operation of an aircraft under the National Airfield Clearance Policy (NAFCP) criteria at the airport, so the request earlier made by CAA was withdrawn.

As per the version of Estate Branch, the land in question has been mutated in the name of the CAA on 17-09-1997.

The CAA has deposited the compensation amount with the Revenue Department for disbursement to the ex-landowners but the land owners have not yet received compensation.

The complainant submitted that the compensation should be given according to the land rate from the present date.

The secretary Aviation said that this does not come under our ambit and that it was the fault of the owner not to collect money from the land accusation collector on time.

The chairman committee pointed out a letter on record by the deputy commissioner that no land requisition record has been found on the disputed land.

The chairman committee directed to summon the SMBR and the deputy commissioner and sought details on the subject.

The committee maintained that the documentation should be duly observed.

It was further directed that construction should be stopped till the resolution of the matter.

The matter of improvement plans of the facilities for the passengers at all airports keeping in view the deteriorating condition at all airports, was also discussed in detail.

The committee expressed dissatisfaction that the conditions of the airports are not up to the mark and the washrooms equipment is malfunctioning.

The committee recommended constructing new washrooms and improving and expanding the ablution area. The CAA informed the committee that a new state-of-the-art international airport is being built at Gwadar with all the latest allied provisions to enhance passenger facilitation.

While briefing on the working of air traffic control system, the committee was informed of the existing VHF/EVHF infrastructure. The committee was briefed that it includes Karachi: 200 NM, Hyderabad: 200 NM, Pasni 200 NM. The committee was also briefed on induction process, which includes 16 years of education degree and class –III medical standard. Basic training on CATI-40 weeks extensive training (ICAO prescribed courses deployment at OJT stations, for on job training (KAR, LAH, and ISL). Radar basic training, non-radar approach training etc. The Air Navigation Plan 2019-2024 was also discussed in the meeting; the committee was informed that phase -1 activation of the ACC Islamabad was completed. Phase -2 of shifting Karachi sector north to ACC Lahore, Establishment of Karachi Sector Centre, and phase-3 of establishment of Karachi terminal area control 130 NM around Karachi is in progress.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022