ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel was surprised to know on Tuesday that the UAE-based international flights have expanded their operations from Pakistan, adding 100 new flights in a week, while the national flag carrier failed to take advantage of the open sky policy.

National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, which met here at parliament house, chaired by MNA Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, was informed that four international airlines have expanded their flight operation from 130 per week to 230 from various Pakistani cities, exploiting the open sky policy and landing rights.

The issue was raised by PTI MNA Asad Umar and PML-N lawmaker Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon. Upon their questioning, Muzafar Alam, an officer of Civil Aviation Authority, briefed the committee of Pakistan’s selected open sky policy. Mr Umar said that the expansion by foreign carriers shows the potential in these routes which Pakistan International Airlines failed to take advantage of. He asked for the increase in PIA flights but CAA and PIA officials couldn’t produce an exact figure.

Earlier, the committee expressed its concerns over the losses being faced by PIA. However, Aviation Secretary Irfan Elahi said that the loan policy is being restructured and work is being done to launch a surety bond to maximize interest rates.

Mr Elahi said that in recent years, PIA has improved its operations. “In 2013, we had 18 aircraft and now we have 32,” he said. Whereas, the managing director of PIA agreed with the stance of the committee that PIA also faces loss because of expansion of flight operations of international airlines.

The committee directed the PIA’s new management to take stringent measures to overcome sustaining losses by improving its performance and come up with the proposals so that the committee could take them at appropriate forum for their amicable solution.

The committee was also informed that the new airport is ready for operations but CAA is yet to award tender for selecting the international operator for running its affairs. The committee was told that so far, the CAA has announced three tenders but failed to receive the required response. “We are going to advertise the contract for the fourth time,” Mr Elahi said, adding that by the end of April, the CAA will complete the process of awarding the contract.

“I am surprised to know that an airport, which has been completed after spending Rs100 billion, is still waiting for the completion of tender process,” said Asad Umar and stressed that the process should have been finalised well before the conclusion of construction work.

Earlier, the committee slammed Cabinet Division and Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP) officials for their failure to purchase modern machinery for printing purposes to meet the requirement of the upcoming general election despite advance release of funds for the purpose.Meanwhile, the panel approved the budgetary proposals of Cabinet Division and discussed the proposals of CAA relating to PSDP for 2018-19. An official press release stated that the committee approved the budget proposals of CAA.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2018