Govt Afoot To Improve Aviation Industry: Saad.

LAHORE -- Federal Railways and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday said that the country's aviation industry would be improved through collective efforts as there were some loopholes in the aviation related policy. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of upgraded runway of Lahore Airport, he said that sincere efforts were being made to remove lapses in the aviation policy. He said that private airlines would also be given opportunities to work besides enhancing the quality and work frequency of Pakistan International Airline. The minister said that he noticed that departments working under the Ministry of Civil Aviation had no coordination with each other. Therefore, efforts were being made to develop better working environment in all the departments for uplift of the aviation industry, he added. Rafique lauded the secretary Civil Aviation and director generals for playing their role to develop harmony among different departments.

He urged the employees to discharge their duties efficiently to justify their demands, adding that those showing extraordinary performance would be rewarded. He said that if any brotherly country wanted to use the Pakistan's airspace, that country would have to make an agreement with it. In that case, the PIA would be its partner and that country would have to give due share to the PIA. He said that the PIA would welcome whosoever would offer good joint ventures to it. He emphasised that the Civil Aviation Authority and the PIA should be supportive to each other. The aviation minister said that Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore was the most earning airport in the country. He added that upgradation work of the runway of Karachi Airport would be started this year. 'Gilgit, Chitral and Skardu airports will also be modernised. Sukkur and Dera Ismail Khan airports will be given the status of international airports. I had been told that the alternative of Walton Airport, which is being constructed in Muridke, will become operational by January 2023,' he said.

The minister went on to say that Gwadar's new airport would become fully operational by September next year while work on Quetta and Faisalabad airports was underway and their runways would be completed this year. He said that the funds lying with the business district authority should be...