ISLAMABAD, July 16: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was given a presentation on the projects of Islamabad and Gwadar airports Airport here on Wednesday.

The prime minister was informed that Islamabad direly needed a modern airport, but expansion of the existing airport was not possible mainly due to non-availability of land.

Mr Jamali was told that one runway at the airport was not meeting the present day needs and construction of a new airport was necessary.

The new airport was conceived and designed by M/s Flughafen of Germany in 1987-88, but was at that time seen as commercially not viable. Need for runway facilities and other requirements increased over the years making the present airport facility insufficient, the prime minister was told.

The new airport complex for Islamabad would handle about 6.5 million passengers annually, improve the country’s image, and help exploit economic and commercial potentials of the area.

The master plan would cater also for any expansion over the next 30-40 years. Several financing options for were under consideration.

Mr Jamali was also briefed about the existing Gwadar airport and proposed new international airport at the site.

Presently there is a small airport in Gwadar with a single runway for small planes.

In the light of development projects being undertaken in Gwadar it would emerge as a major port and commercial hub, thus requiring a bigger and better airport to meet the upcoming needs of passengers and cargo.

The prime minister took keen interest in the projects and gave suggestions for improvement.

He directed the authority to ensure provision of better facilities to the passengers and maintain high standard of the national flag carrier.

Amongst others Governor Balochistan Abdul Quadir Baloch, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and Defence and Finance secretaries were also present during the meeting.