ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Minister for Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Asif shared some exciting news with the National Assembly: the New Gwadar International Airport is almost finished and is on track to start operations by December 2024, pending final handovers and tests.
During the Question Hour, the minister also highlighted that the New General Aviation Aerodrome near Muridke is nearly complete and is expected to begin operations next month. This new aerodrome will soon become the new home for general aviation organizations and flying schools, with a move anticipated within the next three to four months.
In response to another query, Khawaja Asif provided some background on the naming of Islamabad International Airport. He explained that before the airport became operational, the Cabinet Secretariat’s Aviation Division had received a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office on February 3, 2017. This directive requested a consultative process and a summary for the Cabinet to consider potential names for the new airport.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) submitted several name suggestions, including notable figures such as Liaquat Ali Khan, Fatima Jinnah, and Abdul Sattar Edhi. The Cabinet Division formally declared the name “Islamabad International Airport” in a memorandum dated March 7, 2018, following detailed consultations. The final decision came after a review of names like IIAP and Gandhara International Airport, with the Cabinet ultimately approving the name on February 28, 2018.
Addressing another question, the minister clarified that Hyderabad Airport is still in operation, though Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had suspended flights from there in 2013 due to commercial reasons. The airport continues to be staffed and equipped for essential functions.
Khawaja Asif also noted that some airports have been closed due to financial challenges and insufficient passenger traffic, reflecting the broader economic pressures faced in the aviation sector.
