National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has approved Rs 18 billion proposed by Aviation Division under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) - 2016-17 for 26 development projects for Airport Security Force (ASF), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD). The committee approved this proposed amount for next budget-2016-17 in a meeting presided by Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan on Tuesday.
The committee discussed the budgetary proposals of Aviation Division for Pubic Sector Development Programs (PSDP) for the Budget 2016-17. The committee also discussed "The National Air Transportation Safety Board Bill, 2014 and The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2013." Aviation Division has proposed Rs 14.15 billion for 8 development projects of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Rs 3.1 billion for 13 development projects of Airport Security Force (ASF) and Rs 724.224 million for 5 projects of Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD).
Federal Secretary for Aviation Muhammad Irfan Ellahi, who also holds the charge of Acting Chairman Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Board said this while briefing the Committee. He said that Aviation Division has proposed Rs 5 billion for Construction/Expansion of Passenger Terminal Building at Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore (New Scheme) for financial year 2016-17 while the total cost of the project is Rs 50 billion. He said that Rs 2 billion were proposed for Reconstruction /up-Gradation of Main Runway at Jinnah International Airport Karachi, Rs 3 billion for Construction of Third Satellite at Jinnah International Airport Karachi and Rs 250 million for operationalisation of Rawalakot Airport etc.
He said that Aviation Division proposed 3.1 billion mostly for the construction of barracks accommodation for the ASF of various airports. The committee endorsed all the budgetary proposals of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Establishment Division and directed to complete their on-going projects without further delay. The committee also directed the Ministry to ensure the easy approach to New Islamabad Airport and also take National Highway Authority (NHA) onboard regarding the said issue. The committee discussed the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2013 (moved by Kishwar Zehra, MNA). After detailed deliberations on the Bill, the committee came to the conclusion that this Bill would be contradictory to the existing legislation therefore, it could not be entertained. The committee unanimously decided that the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2013 (moved by Kishwar Zehra, MNA) may be dropped. As the Movers of "The National Air Transportation Safety Board Bill, 2014" and "The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2014" were not present in the meeting therefore, the committee deferred the said Bills till its next meeting.