Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to finalise necessary arrangements for starting direct flight from Sialkot to Kuwait shortly. This was stated by Chief Executive Sialkot International Airport Khawar Anwar Khawaja.
Talking to Business Recorder here Monday that at present PIA was already successfully operating two flights weekly from Sialkot to Karachi while third flight would operational early next on the same route. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is taking the step keeping in view the highly encouraging response of passengers, he said.
Khawar Khawaja further said that foreign investors constantly are showing their keen interest to invest in different projects including the construction of a five star hotel near Sialkot International Airport.
The functioning of airport in this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry of the country would not only opening new vista of development, foreign investment and industrial development but it would help further accelerate the pace of trade commerce activities, he added.
The airport will not only cater the needs of golden industrial triangle of Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat but also generate thousands employment opportunities, he added. It may be mentioned that most modern Apron having the parking capacity for six wide-bodies aircraft or three airbus plus F-27 aircraft had been constructed at the airport. Besides 3600-metre long, 45-metre wide taxiway had been constructed.
The longest international runway of the country measuring 3.6-km had been constructed and it will cater the requirement of all aircraft used for international and domestic cargo and passenger traffic. The professionally designed International Airport has been developed over 1004 acres and fully equipped for handling B747-400, A300 and 737 aircraft.
The potential traffic forecast for Sialkot international airport is scaled down at the time of opening to 53,0339 passengers a year while estimated cargo tonnage at the time of opening is expected to be 28515 tons.
This means that by the end of year 2012 about 53,000 tones of cargo will be lifted from Sialkot International Airport. Due to the provision of passenger facilities at Sialkot International Airport, it was estimated that the general public would benefit to the tune of over Rs 2 billion in terms of time and money savings. Similarly, cargo handling at the airport would save more than Rs 1 billion for the businesses.