December 15, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 20, 1424

KARACHI, Dec 14: Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Ishrat Hussain on Sunday asked the Pakistan International Airlines to extend its cooperation for boosting country’s exports.

He was addressing the inaugural session of International Aviation Conference, organized by the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) to mark the World Aviation Week.

He appreciated the overall performance of PIA in carrying out passenger and cargo services within and outside the country.

However, he said that a lot of efforts were still needed for PIA to become a facilitator for trade and industry.

The acquisition of new aircraft, including Boeing and Air Bus, and increase in operational profits have made the future of PIA bright, he observed.

Dr Hussain further observed that aviation traffic in Pakistan had declined in the recent years. He recalled that in 1980s, around 30 to 35 flights of British Airways used to come to Karachi Airport, but now its number had declined.

He, however, was optimistic that with the development of airports at Karachi and Lahore, the air traffic would increase.

Moreover, he was hopeful that PIA would be able to compete with leading airlines of the world.

Former Sindh governor and president of Royal Aeronautical Society (UK), Pakistan Division, Air Marshal Azim Daudpota gave a brief history of aviation in the world.

He paid tributes to Wright Brothers for their first successfully controlled flight.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal was given a presentation about Civil Aviation Authority’s main functions and its infrastructure on Saturday by CAA Deputy Director-General Air Vice Marshal M Abid Rao.

Earlier, defence minister was welcomed by CAA Director-General Air Marshal Pervez Akhtar Nawaz on his arrival.

Director (Works), Brig M Toseefuz Zaman Khan, briefed the federal minister about CAA’s financial position.

The minister stressed upon the need to improve the facilities being provided to passengers at the airports.—APP