The Minister for Defence Syed Naveed Qamar said that the government would complete its 5-year term which ends on March 18. "The elections will be called within 60 days after completion of this term. We hope the elections would be held by May 2013," he said while talking to the media at Hyderabad Airport here on Sunday.
The Minister denied that there is any plan to postpone the elections on any pretext. "These are just rumours," he clarified.
He said it is auspicious for the country that a democratically elected government would complete its constitutional period.
Talking about the state of the country's flag carrier airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the Minister announced that a fleet pf 8 new aircraft is being bought on lease for the PIA.
He noted that the biggest problem of the Pakistan International Airlines is the shortage of aircraft adding that the government is addressing that issue. "We are also increasing the revenue of the PIA," he added.
When asked about the complaints of the business community of Hyderabad about the condition of the runway of Hyderabad Airport, Qamar said the repair work of the runway would be completed within 3 months as soon as the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) submits a report in that regard. "After this repair work even the 737 and A20 aircraft would be able to land at the airport," he said.
The Defence Minister praised the performance of the CAA's Training Center in Hyderabad saying that the aviation staff trained who were even working in the foreign countries.