ISLAMABAD: Citing security concerns, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday declined to allow access to the Bacha Khan Airport Peshawar through Khyber and Bahadur Yar Jang roads despite a parliamentary committee’s request to open the two approaches to ease travel.

“The matter has been discussed with all security agencies and it has been decided that it is still not safe to allow general public access to these two approaches to the airport. We will urge members not to negate vulnerabilities of the armed forces,” Air Marshal Moeed Khan told a Senate special committee constituted to examine the dilapidated conditions of the airport.

Bahadur Yar Road provides direct access to the Northern Air Command, officers’ mess and residences of officers, said the air marshal. “Opening these roads is still not an option. Security risks are simply too high which we will like the committee members to take into consideration.”

Nonetheless, the committee recommended that one of the two roads be opened to give direct access to the airport and bring relief to the residents of Peshawar.

Senate special committee wants opening of either Khyber Road or Bahadur Yar Jang Road to ease traffic to Bacha Khan Airport

“We do not agree with the continued blockade of these main approaches to the airport. We have been using Khyber Road as far back as we can remember. The armed forces should make other necessary security arrangements and open one of these two roads,” said ANP Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour.

PTI and PML-N senators Nauman Wazir Khattak and Nisar Mohammad also said either of the two roads should be opened.

Air Marshal Khan told the committee that the two approaches were manned one-third by the PAF personnel and two-third by the army. He said the proposed expansion of the two-lane road into six lanes would solve the problem of traffic congestion towards the airport.

“Traffic flow will be regulated once the road widening project is completed,” said the air marshal.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General retired Air Marshal Asim Suleiman said the expansion of the road towards the airport would begin as soon as land was made available by the PAF and the army.

The meeting also discussed the construction of a planned multi-storied parking space for 900 plus cars at the Bacha Khan Airport.

“This special committee has been formed to find solutions to the major congestion problems at the Bacha Khan Airport. This committee directs Ministry of Defence to assist CAA that the project is executed without delays,” said chairman of the committee, Senator Mohsin Aziz of the PTI.

The committee also discussed the proposed new airport in Peshawar. According to the CAA chief, international consultants were being hired to conduct a study to decide a suitable location for the new airport.

“Unfortunately, Pakistan does not have expertise in building airports. All airports were inherited. An in-house study is also being conducted on the new airport to suggest the best and convenient location,” said Mr Suleiman.

The committee directed the CAA to share details of the in-house study being made for the selection of the location for the new international airport in Peshawar.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2017