Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has sought a detailed report of 36 housing societies surrounding New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) within a month. The committee under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood visited the NIIA. The officials of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Capital Development Authority (CDA), National Highway Authority (NHA) and civil administration Attock and Fateh Jang briefed the committee members about the different parts of the airport.
Director General CAA Air Marshal Asim Suleiman (retd) briefed the standing committee about the progress of the NIIA. The committee members expressed concern over allowing two interchange facilities for two housing societies near NIIA, as earlier the NHA had stated that giving facility of interchange to any housing society is against the policy. The committee has sought details in this regard from the relevant institutions and decided to send the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
While imposing section 4, Talha Mahmood directed for purchasing land for construction of third runway. The land price will increase immensely once the airport becomes functional, he added. He said that Mumtaz City and Top City Housing Society fall in the jurisdiction of the third runway that is why their licence should be cancelled forthwith so that they cannot mint money from the people.
The chairman committee while taking strict notice of a company that is receiving illegal fines from the CAA, also sought details. The committee was informed that the NIIA with the cost of Rs 37 billion had to be completed in 2013 but due to its extension, now this project would be completed at the cost of Rs 87 billion in August 2017.
The committee also expressed its reservations over water and road facilities. The committee chairman emphasised on the need of improving roads. The committee was briefed that Metro Bus Project is being extended to the NIIA on the directives of the Prime Minister. For improving the road from Golra area to GT Road, the chairman also summoned the relevant officials. He said that housing society of Ministry of Housing and Works is not in the jurisdiction of NIIA, adding it was established keeping in view all legal formalities and after receiving no objection certificate (NOC) from the CAA.