19 October 2004	Tuesday	04 Ramazan 1425

PESHAWAR, Oct 18: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the NWFP Revenue Department have started finalising plan for acquiring land for the expansion of the Peshawar International Airport, officials said.

Under the proposed plan, the CAA needs about 1,280 kanals around the existing airport, which is also serving as an air base.

A meeting was held here on Friday which was attended by senior officials of the CAA, Revenue Department and City Development and Municipal Department (CDMD).

Officials said that the revenue department staff had been directed to conduct a fresh survey in adjoining villages, including Pawaka, Abdara, Navaon Kali and Nodeh Payan. The district revenue officer has already banned sale and purchase of land in the areas.

Initially, the CAA had planned to obtain land for the construction of the new airport on the Kohat road and a preliminary survey was completed. However, the Kohat road site was given up on technical grounds.

Sources said that in Friday's meeting it was decided that after completion of the survey, the CAA would brief the NWFP governor and the chief minister about the airport expansion project.

Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has already opposed the expansion in the existing airport. However, the CAA officials said that after the expansion the existing airport would meet requirements for the next 15 years.