The 6th session of Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution asking federal government to build a new airport at Chilas in Diamer District for provision of all-weather air travelling facilities to the people, and promotion of tourism and trade in the region.
The NALC session began here on Friday morning with recitation from the Holy Quran. NALC Speaker Malik Muhammad Miskeen was in the chair. Deputy Chief Executive NALC Ghazanfar Ali Khan also attended the session.
Responding to a calling attention moved by Member of the NALC Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman regarding the raise in PIA fares on Northern Areas routes, the Deputy Chief Executive NALC told the House that he had taken up the matter with the P1A authorities.
He also called upon the PIA authorities to allocate its planes specifically on Islamabad-Gilgit and Islamabad-Skardu routes so that these planes could exclusively be operated on those routes. He was of the view that in case of shortage of planes the scheduled flights for Northern Areas are cancelled and these are operated on other routes.
The members of NALC were unanimous of the view that construction of new airport with modern landing instruments, equipment and facilities was vital to ensure operation of all-weather flights to Northern Areas.
He demanded of the PIA authorities to review its decision and provide relief to the people of Northern Areas.
NALC Member Muhammad Iqbal also spoke on the motion. He asked the authorities concerned to bound private sector to operate their flights on those routes to ensure a healthy competition and provision of better and comfortable air travelling services to the people of Northern Areas and for promoting tourism and trade.
Participating in the discussion, member NALC Sultan Madad also called for revision of fares and provision of better facilities to the people of the area.