PESHAWAR, Nov 13: Three different sites, surrounding Peshawar, have been short-listed, of the total 10 sites; surveyed and studied for construction of a new Peshawar international airport.

A formal site selection board headed by AVM Arshad Rashid Sethi has also been constituted to take a final decision about the most suitable site which is expected to be made within 60 days.

The NWFP governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, was informed about this during a high-level meeting held at Governor’s House here on Wednesday which besides others was also attended by chief secretary Shakil Durrani, additional chief secretary Jehangir Bashar, secretary Works and Services Brig Safdar Hussain Awan, district Nazim Azam Afridi, and DG CD&MD Malik Saad.

The governor about the progress made so far in this connection.

Further the governor was informed that another committee of experts under the name of Operation Specialists Committee was already working actively which was expected to submit its report within the next couple of weeks.

Mr Shah expressed his deep concern over the plight and sufferings of the passengers as well as the visitors of Peshawar Airport and said the Civil Aviation Authority and the management of the airport should also chalk out a concrete plan of action to improve the facilities at the existing airport.

No doubt, the requirement of a new airport is indispensable and both the government and the authority are actively involved in the process yet it will take time to be completed.

He said interim arrangements have to be made to meet the immediate requirements. For this purpose, he said, the authority should not only coordinate with the respective institutions but also come out with just solution of the grievances of the people whose sufferings are increasing day-by-day.