President General Pervez Musharraf has directed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to further improve its efficiency to make it more competitive and profitable.
"PIA management should raise the standard of services for passengers in order to capture greater market share", President observed after a briefing of the PIA regarding the new international airports at Islamabad and Gwadar.
PIA and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) officials briefed the President. Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal and Religious Minister Muhammad Ejaz-ul-Haq were also present.
The President urged the national carrier and the religious ministry to offer better facilities to pilgrims proceeding to Saudi Arabia for Haj and Umrah. President was told that the new airports at Islamabad and Gwadar will have modern facilities and PIA will have new aircraft to promote tourism, trade and investment.
The meeting was informed that the design of new Islamabad airport will be finalised by mid May while construction work is expected to get underway by the end of the year.
The new Islamabad international airport will be completed in three years at an estimated cost of Rs 18 billion. The CAA has invited reputed international companies for the design of the new Gwadar airport.
Chairman PIA Tariq Karmani informed the meeting that the airline plan to induct 29 new aircraft to replace the ageing fleet.