Air travel in Pakistan would be on way to new range of tolls and technological advances after the implementation of new Civil Aviation Policy. This was stated on Wednesday by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) DG Farook Rehmatullah at the Senate defence committee meeting.
The draft of policy, awaiting approval of Defence Ministry, is based on studies of aviation policies of a number of countries. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority would encourage a select open policy to give level operating field to all airline operators--domestic and foreign. Defence Secretary Kamrul Rasul spoke of a number of positive developments taking place in the civil aviation.
For a start, he said, foreign airlines were coming back. The resumption of Lufthansa flight from Lahore is a precursor of a number of airlines' renewed operations. A number of foreign airlines, such as a new Bangladesh airline, the British Airlines, the Chinese Airlines, Gulf, Doha, and other Middle East airlines, are interested in increasing flight resumption and frequency.
He said that US aviation authorities have also promised resumption of PIA's New York flights.
However, discussion at the meeting showed that foreign airlines had security concerns about operating in Pakistan. Additional Secretary, Defence, said he had to allay concerns about Lal Masjid affair to a number of world civil aviation officials. A member of US Highlands Commission asked if he should come considering what was happening at Karachi. He countered whether aircraft in the USA had stopped flights after 9/11 incident? The US official got the message, he added.
According to the draft policy, at home, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore would be developed as hub airports. Cargo villages would be established at Gwadar, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airports. However, the requirement of minimum fleet size for a regular public transport licence holder will be at least three aircraft for domestic operation and four for international operation.
Paid up capital for regular public transport licence shall be Rs 500 million, and fleet registration would be mandatory for all Pakistani aircraft operators. But new Pakistani airlines, operating one small aircraft for a period of three years, will be exempted from fee.
A private company, the Airports Sales and Services Ltd, is also contemplating to operate commuter charter flights between Hyderabad and Lahore and Hyderabad and Karachi, to encourage private investment. CAA DG promised world class standards keeping in view passenger standards. He said that aviation development is one segment in the overall integral trade corridor, with inputs from agriculture, commerce and railways sectors. The issue is now receiving attention of the Planning Commission.
PIA was asked to furnish comprehensive report of damage assessment to the airline as a result of the ban placed on its planes earlier by the EU, and why the CAA and PIA were late in removing deficiencies pointed out by the EU.
Shortage of Spare parts: The committee sought a report from PIA on the shortage of spare parts which was inhibiting PIA operations. Committee member Dilawar Abbas pointed to newspaper reports complaining shortage of spare parts limiting PIA operations.
Passenger facility: By and large, members were not satisfied with passenger facilities. The blocking of roads prevented passengers from reaching airports on time. It was agreed that as a routine Pakistanis were prone to over-reaction but steps were under contemplation to reduce discomforts. Defence Secretary said he would work for ensuring that traffic congestion would not delay passengers travelling to airports to catch their flights.
Separate Domestic and International Terminals at Islamabad :Defence Secretary Kamran Rasul stated that the CAA was contemplating to build separate domestic incoming and outgoing terminals at Islamabad airport, separate from international passengers. However, the project might take three years to mature.
Exclusive Smoking Rooms: Rukhsana Zuberi urged provision of Exclusive Smoking Rooms to keep separate from passengers to be provided at airports. The smoking rooms should display large billboards proclaiming that smoking was injurious to health, she said. Users Consultation: Chairman Nisar Memon was concerned about passenger consultation with respect to facility and air travel. DG Civil Aviation responded that the department had commissioned a number of surveys to get feedback from flight passengers.
PIA aircraft stalling 14,000 ft down: The furnished answer was unsatisfactory and, therefore , chairman asked PIA to furnish a detailed report, and also issue a press statement conveying the reasons how and why the incident happened in December and it was repeated in April 2007. Rationalisation of taxes on air travel: The committee said that the present taxes were too high, which discouraged the middle and lower income groups from air travel.
Senate Secretariat press release adds: The members of the committee, by and large expressed their dissatisfaction over the facilities presently available at the airports saying that these are substandard and need much improvement. Passenger lounges are not up to the mark; the staff deputed at the airports is generally not very co-operative and courteous; cleanliness also leaves a lot to be desired; nobody cares for passengers who are stranded at the airports in case of cancellation of flights, they said.
The new policy should not only ensure a fair and healthy competition among the airlines but also endeavour to meet global standards with regard to passenger safety and comfort, the meeting stressed.