Work on the upgrade project of Saidu Sharif Airport is in full-swing as land has been acquired for the purpose and payment to the owners of land also in progress.
This was told to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister during a meeting of Air Officer Commanding, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Risalpur Academy, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Nadeem Sabir, who called on him at CM's Secretariat the other day. The Principal Secretary of Chief Minister Mohammad Israr, Secretary Sports and other concerned authorities were also present on this occasion.
The chief minister was told that employment opportunity to one member of each affected family would also be provided. Runway of the Airport would be reconstructed. However, there were some issues need administrative support of provincial government. The chief minister was briefed about the different projects undertaken by Pakistan Air Force. He was particularly briefed about the upgrade project of Saidu Sharif Airport and told that this would be an Airport of international standard. Dir, Chitral, Malakand and other adjacent districts would also get benefit of this Airport.
Talking on the occasion, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan assured that his government will extend its every possible support for upgrade and extension of Saidu Sharif Airport adding that this Airport would have key role in the changing scenario of coming future.
The region, he said was going to be a hub of trade and investment in the wake of CPEC. His government was also working to introduce tourism as industry in Hazara, Swat and Malakand division. The chief minister assured to provide required support and assistance and said he will try to remove hindrances in this project on priority basis because this was an important project that would also support to enhance exports. Provincial government, the chief minister said will provide every possible help and will also facilitate to resolve the issues related to the federal government because this was basically the domain of federal government. He also assured to consider the request regarding participation of Pakistan Air Force in the development of Kheshgi Park project.
He directed the concerned authority to remove the encroachments adjacent with the boundary wall of Risalpur Academy. He also directed to resolve the issue regarding land acquisition for staging flight in Kaghan.
Later, Air Vice Marshal Sarfaraz Khan, Air Officer Commanding Northern Air Command Peshawar also called on Chief Minister and discussed matters of mutual interests, capabilities and specialties of PAF, ongoing activities in the province particularly training quality in the Technical Education and Vocational centres of TEVTA with him.
The chief minister proposed the PAF to establish resort at Gabin Jabba and said this was a beautiful and accessible place having rich potential of tourism. Sarfraz Khan agreed with this proposal and showed his keen interest for developing resort on the site. He told that PAF had already developed a resort at Nalter and also wanted to develop another resort at Chitral. He revealed that model of Nilter resort could be replicated for Gabin Jabba.
The chief minister agreed in principle to this model and directed the authorities concerned to devise a mechanism in this regard. Air Vice Marshal also revealed that they were going to start night operation from Peshawar Airport while flight for Sharjah would also be formally inaugurated and started from 22nd of this month.