Chinese company awarded contract to reconstruct Lahore airport: report

Dawn.com Published July 11, 2017

The Pakistani government has awarded a contract worth nearly $382 million to a Chinese company to reconstruct Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport, the Chinese state-owned People's Daily newspaper reported Tuesday.

A photo of the reimagined Lahore airport. — Photo courtesy: People's Daily

China Construction Third Engineering Bureau won the 2.6 billion RMB contract to engineer, procure, and construct the reimagined Lahore airport, which will become Pakistan's largest after the reconstruction is completed, the report claimed.

"It is the largest project that the Third Engineering Bureau has undertaken overseas, marking another important achievement in Belt and Road construction," the newspaper, which is a Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece, said in its report.

Prior to this, the same Chinese company was awarded a number of major projects in Pakistan including the Karachi-Lahore Expressway between Sukkur and Multan, Lahore's Arfa Software Technology Park, and The Centaurus Hotel.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has championed what China formally calls the “One Belt, One Road” or OBOR initiative to build a new Silk Road linking Asia, Africa and Europe, a landmark programme to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure projects including railways, ports and power grids.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship programme of OBOR. The construction of an international airport in Gwadar is also part of CPEC.

CPEC Projects

Pakistan

143

LHC stays Lahore airport outsourcing

One Belt, One Road: a snapshot

OBOR and CPEC

usman

Jul 11, 2017 02:01pm

great work - keep it up sirs

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Tariq

Jul 11, 2017 02:05pm

All eggs in one basket. The government should give opportunity to other developed countries like Germany, UK, USA, and CANADA.

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balakorea

Jul 11, 2017 02:05pm

then who will come and construct , will you???

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Ammar Khurshidi

Jul 11, 2017 02:07pm

Good repayment to the 70% Taxpayers in Karachi. I'm sure they will be delighted.

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Dr A khan

Jul 11, 2017 02:07pm

Centaurus Hotel is yet to be constructed, what we have is Centaurus mall and apartments. Safe to say, the workmanship and construction materials could have been better.

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Saeed Ansari

Jul 11, 2017 02:08pm

Not a very Positive step by the Government as we do not know the pros and cons with the Chinese We should not Over trust them and invest soo much with them, better invest in education and health sectors which are badly in need.

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ZakTheGas

Jul 11, 2017 02:11pm

marking another important achievement in Belt and Road construction - Is awarding contract to Chinese is becoming achievement now adays

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Jinping

Jul 11, 2017 02:14pm

Should learn from Sri Lanka's empty airport, who are struggling to pay back loan.

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SHAHRYAR SHIRAZI

Jul 11, 2017 02:15pm

@Ammar Khurshidi "Good repayment to the 70% Taxpayers in Karachi. I'm sure they will be delighted" I am from Karachi and this has nothing to do with Khi versus Lhr. The Sindh Govt. needs to get its act together, not the Central government.

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NATIONALIZATION

Jul 11, 2017 02:20pm

It should be done by any our national company to boost our economy.

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Muzammel Hussain

Jul 11, 2017 02:23pm

@SHAHRYAR SHIRAZI Airports are the job of federal government as CAA also comes under Federal Government. Thanks from the tax payers of Karachi for securing Punjab prime minister's vote bank.

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Cpec millionaire

Jul 11, 2017 02:24pm

Say some project name which was not awarded to Chinese companies..?

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love

Jul 11, 2017 02:24pm

@Tariq why not to give pak companies

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ARSHAD CANADA

Jul 11, 2017 02:27pm

@Tariq, I am sure the Government of Pakistan would love to rewards these types of contracts to the Western countries but they are coming up with loans and financial packages.

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Najeeb

Jul 11, 2017 02:30pm

It should be Karachi Air port, 2nd. Lahore if fed government is footing the bill.

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Agnello Sequeira

Jul 11, 2017 02:30pm

What Pakistan needs foreigners to come and construct airports are they intellectually bankrupt that they cannot find funding sources, Engineers to build roads and airports. Keep it up ,

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Khwarizmi

Jul 11, 2017 02:30pm

@balakorea Who will come and construct? The government of Pakistan should use local companies and local workforce for all contruction and development work. Management and design can be given to foreign companies, but that is all. Governments across the world award contracts to foreign companies only if those company make use of local people for job grouth. The chinese model og them bringing in chinese for the manual construction jobs defies all logic - and I hate the very idea of doing business this way!

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M.Saeed

Jul 11, 2017 02:31pm

@Tariq: Germany, UK, USA, and CANADA? They are all open to compete. If they can.

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Dr BN Anand

Jul 11, 2017 02:31pm

Chinese have found a country in world where they totally monoplise and are investing enough to ultimately make pakistan its colony like Hong Kong.. I wonder no Pakistan based company is good enough to collaborate with Chinese and be part of the game. That would be a win-win situation for both countries

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Pakistan

Jul 11, 2017 02:31pm

After new Islamabad Airport next door I thought Karachi Airport requires reconstruction rather than Lahore. All the eggs in one basket?

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Khwarizmi

Jul 11, 2017 02:33pm

@Tariq I agree 100%. It is very important that US companies are also awarded contracts if they can prove them selves to be in a better position. US do not attack or work against countries where American companies are doing successful businesses. Just for the record, I am really fed up by Americans and their lies and wars...but this is just good politics!

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Raaz

Jul 11, 2017 02:34pm

Award a blanket contract to China for all future projects also for the next 100 years

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sanjesh kumar

Jul 11, 2017 02:37pm

For God sake spend on quality live to people. We need education healthcare and basic amenities to the masses. Why only investment and construction in Punjab? what about the rest of provinces? Are they not Pakistani?

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Hamza

Jul 11, 2017 02:37pm

As usual, Punjab profits. Not only are we prostituting key state institutions off to a single client, but can someone explain how this is feasible? Surely more traffic is generated out of Karachi? Why does Lahore require such a large airport. If anyone knows the actual numbers please let me know.

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aamir

Jul 11, 2017 02:38pm

@Muzammel Hussain And Karachi has been systematically reduced to security concern with billions of rupees expenditure in this account.

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Kash

Jul 11, 2017 02:40pm

I hope they keep the existing front entrance to the airport. Really nice architecture there

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Asif

Jul 11, 2017 02:42pm

What a waste of money it further create hatred in small provinces as unnecessary useless funds are diverted to Lahore while small provinces lack basic infrastructure it's Pakistan money and not Punjab money ironically Karachi which gives 80 percentage share to government get back only one percentage in return where as the population 300 times more then that of Lahore stop this discrimination now

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Jan

Jul 11, 2017 02:43pm

But pointless as no airlines fly here

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Akhan

Jul 11, 2017 02:43pm

When India gives their contracts to built airport to home grown companies, we are giving it to China. Well done

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Sohail Wazir

Jul 11, 2017 02:46pm

This is great news. Keep it up

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JKhan

Jul 11, 2017 02:51pm

I do not support this. Why Chinese? What procedure was involved in awarding this contract? Not Acceptable like award of Port Qasim contract. Both must be awarded following rules and regulations.

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Just_saying

Jul 11, 2017 02:53pm

I don't know the process followed in Pak but in India, the Govt. invites bids in which many national and international companies participate and then the project is awarded. Many a times consortium of domestic and international company bids together for the project. In India, major airports have been built/modernized by Indian companies themselves. The aim for any govt. should be to build capabilities for building long term infrastructure in the country.

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Gbian

Jul 11, 2017 02:55pm

Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad already has a modern and decent airport, why recontruct new airports there? are we so rich and stupid? Build airports in Gilgit, Quetta and Gwadar for the maximum benefit of CPEC to all Pakistanis.. Gilgit has a 50year old Airport, that can only land an ATR 42. We badly need a new airport here that can least land a B747.

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Shaukat

Jul 11, 2017 02:57pm

No local company qualified for such projects?

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Shaukat

Jul 11, 2017 02:58pm

Lahore airport is in a congested part of the city now. Why not build a new airport outside and away from the city?

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Sukhera

Jul 11, 2017 02:59pm

@Tariq . Who is going to provide protection to the western workers and why they should risk their lives? Life is more important than making money.

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Taimur

Jul 11, 2017 03:00pm

@Ammar Khurshidi Sindh government should wake up. Time for PPP to pay back to Sindhis who have been voting for them for decades.

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Ali

Jul 11, 2017 03:02pm

Its gonna be a beautiful airport. An airport that Lahore deserves

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vikas

Jul 11, 2017 03:02pm

@Agnello Sequeira Well you answered your own question.

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Junaid Anwar

Jul 11, 2017 03:03pm

why not karachi ????

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Jalbani Baloch

Jul 11, 2017 03:06pm

This is a step-motherly treatment with Sindh, whose capital Karachi hosts the inalienable title of Gate-way to Pakistan because of being port City. From flow of business and passengers, Karachi Airport qualifies to be the biggest Airport of Pakistan. Though I am not jealous for expansion of Lahore Airport, but it has no comparison with Karachi, which is being ignored by State of Pakistan and this creates resentment and anger amongst the people of Sindh, specially Karachities.

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PAMNANI-INDIA

Jul 11, 2017 03:06pm

Surprised that not a single company is capable for constructing Lahore Airport in Pakistan? Sorry Dears?

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Kannan

Jul 11, 2017 03:07pm

In future everything will be given to china. Road construction , rail construction too, so china will only gain from all these. Why not you guys build these things yourself.

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Asad

Jul 11, 2017 03:10pm

Please we need power jobs industry ... every thing Lahore Lahore lahore

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Hyderabadi

Jul 11, 2017 03:12pm

Why can't Pakistanis construct airport or at least have a joint venture ?? Even if you save half money here will be great .

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Waqar

Jul 11, 2017 03:13pm

Don't take my comment the wrong way but Karachi international Airport is in serious need of renovation. More focus should be placed on it as it is deteriorating day by day.

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Hyderabadi

Jul 11, 2017 03:19pm

India should be concerned not for the development of Pakistan but at the prospect of all these projects being used against them by Chinese Pakistan should not blindly trust China and ensure that the development being done and the cost attached to it is justifiable

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Msadiq

Jul 11, 2017 03:20pm

Such a great news

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solomon the king

Jul 11, 2017 03:23pm

construct and now reconstruct, seems too much money they have for the Lahore, and it still becomes Ravi on the rainy days

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Khalid

Jul 11, 2017 03:24pm

I cannot but notice: 1) that the source of news is a Chinese daily, which means that our national dailies and people have no handle on CPEC. 2) it is said that the company has won. Was the due process carried out properly i.e. We're companies prequalified? Did the tender floated in international and national publications? Was a portion of the works made obligatory to be carried out by Pakistani companies? So many questions.

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Qamar

Jul 11, 2017 03:24pm

Wow... we cannot look beyond China!!!

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Qamar

Jul 11, 2017 03:26pm

@Dr BN Anand . China is not investing in Pakistan. They are drowning Pakistan in high interest debt.

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M. Aslam

Jul 11, 2017 03:28pm

@Tariq The countries you mention are fine but at what cost? There is no way that you can get the job done at the quoted price of $382 million from any of these countries.

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a khan

Jul 11, 2017 03:31pm

@Tariq well said all eggs in one basket..our local construction company bidding price was more than them?? no offence we have been in touch with some chinese IT companies, they dont do anything when in china but outside they fill the pockets like anything.IT business being destroyed by them.

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A. A.

Jul 11, 2017 03:33pm

Whats wrong with the existing Lahore Airport? It is already one of the newest airports of Pakistan and is under utilized. I am unable to comprehend the rationale behind it.

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VINEETH G

Jul 11, 2017 03:34pm

Is China the only country prepared to invest in Pakistan? Or is it a secret clause of CPEC that the contracts for any infrastructural project to be undertaken in Pakistan should be given to China alone? Have Pakistanis ever seriously considered about the scale of folly in putting all their eggs in one basket? If China were to make a demand next time that is inimical to Pakistan's interest, will Pakistan be in a position to say no to it?

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Mrityunjay Tripathi

Jul 11, 2017 03:41pm

@M. Aslam Brother, how do you know?

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Doctor

Jul 11, 2017 03:44pm

Everything for Lahore. What about other cities which do not even have any airport?

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SADFACEs

Jul 11, 2017 03:46pm

Why are they reconstructing the airport? Why not make a new airport in Peshawar or Sukkur?

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Pak PATRIOT

Jul 11, 2017 03:47pm

Part of the Lahore airport expansion and modernization project should be the, building of a four star hotel adjoining the terminal. This hotel can be used during extended flight delay's and lay over for connecting and transiting passengers. The benefit of a hotel in close proximity to the terminal, is beneficial in saving on transporting passengers. It would be prudent for PIA to be a major investor in this Airport Hotel.

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Professor Khan

Jul 11, 2017 03:49pm

China is 34 trillion dollar in debt and ( roughly 3 times its GDP) and making all kinds of promises. I do not know if they can keep the promises. Should have given contract to some other country. If China economy sinks it will take Pakistan along with it. No expert in Pakistan media talks about the impending collapse of Chinese economy due to its debt.

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SUBSTANDARD

Jul 11, 2017 03:53pm

Chinese standard is substandard. Earlier Dubai preferred Chinese contract due to low quotation.After that They were not following and unable to meet the client's quality and fulfil the requirements .If client say anything then these all chinkies went for fighting. Due to this Dubai cancelled the most of the Chinese contracts.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jul 11, 2017 03:53pm

Welcome to the club.

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Ilias from NL

Jul 11, 2017 03:58pm

Our new LHR airport made me wonder when it was constructed because it was not much different than the older one in its design but now this so called re imagined airport is looking great as it should be. Thank you Pakistan

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Ali

Jul 11, 2017 04:02pm

Long live Pakistan China friendship.But China should understand that we believe in you blindly, so please don't shatter our belief in you

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Dr C Rao hyd

Jul 11, 2017 04:04pm

I can see a resourceful nation like Pakistan is going the Sri Lanka way. There were no options for SL , while Pak is a larger and rich country. I hope it's not built on a ' loan' with a very high interest rate.

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Dhruv

Jul 11, 2017 04:06pm

It would have been better if a Pakistani company formed a joint venture with any foreign company for construction if the right skill was not available. This would help the local company acquire good knowledge on taking up projects of these scale. If right skill is available, then Pakistani company should have been awarded the contract in full. That would have been best.

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Jul 11, 2017 04:07pm

@Tariq agree with you, but are developed countries like Germany, UK, USA, and CANADA ready to come in your country ? as of not you dont have any option other then one basket.

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common & immaterial

Jul 11, 2017 04:09pm

@Professor Khan Proessor sahab.. chinese economy is too big to sink. They're shrewd businessman. The reason behind slowing down of their economy is aging population. For controlling population, they controlled birth rate but the same policy is coming down to haunt them.. But they've invested well & will keep growing along with us

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Dr C Rao hyd

Jul 11, 2017 04:09pm

Just_saying, On the contrary most modern Indian airports are built by Indian companies of repute. GKM group built and operated Hyd, NDelhi, B' lore, Mumbai and other airports. Their international repute is seen in Istanbul and Mauritius airports.

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Edwardian

Jul 11, 2017 04:11pm

Why it has to be Lahore once again? Peshawar Airport the only international airport in KP is among the only three airports of the country which earn revenue. British time Peshawar airport facilitates commercial flights, airforce, army aviation and the flying club. At one point even a railway track passes through the runway. The infrastructure is too old to bear modern air traffic amenities and doesn't qualify to be in the category of any respectable civil aviation entity.

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Qaisar

Jul 11, 2017 04:14pm

This is another evidence that Pakistan Federal budget is only spent in Lahore. PML (N) should be renamed as LML (Lahore Muslim League).

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technokraft

Jul 11, 2017 04:26pm

Anyone remembers Islamabad airport???

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ice ice baby

Jul 11, 2017 04:30pm

what so great about it. we all know that any project should go to chinese companies only, after all its their own money being invested.. great china, well done

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common & immaterial

Jul 11, 2017 04:43pm

@Edwardian your so poor description of peshawer airport prompted me to check its images on google. From outside it certainly looked like railway station

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PopnRolla

Jul 11, 2017 04:45pm

What Pakistanis and other countries in the world need to understand is Chinese have maxed out the construction projects in their country. Now their companies are pressurising their govt to create opportunities for them as they get kickbacks. Hence Chinese leadership are in overdrive to capture every little projects in the world. It doesn't matter if it's useful to the host country as long as they are minting money. So think before you act Pakistan. Diversify or do it yourself.

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Unbiased Thoughts

Jul 11, 2017 04:47pm

Hope it was through open tender process.

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Shaffiq Mahmood

Jul 11, 2017 04:49pm

75 million people in Punjab do not have access to clean drinking water. Yet, Airport is more important. Shame on the Punjab government. Pakistanis deserve the leaders they have.

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Zak

Jul 11, 2017 04:53pm

That is the true brotherly relationship between our countries. With such infrastructure & CPEC, we will soon see good days.

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Bipul

Jul 11, 2017 04:54pm

Why not consider Indian companies as well? If silly differences are kept aside, we can have great partnership.

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Ayaan

Jul 11, 2017 04:58pm

Now that's called waste of money

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Amarnath

Jul 11, 2017 04:58pm

This should have been foreseen. China has overcapacity issues in construction. China is just excecising it.... and all along making money.

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alu

Jul 11, 2017 04:58pm

beware of made In China

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A. Ali

Jul 11, 2017 04:59pm

new highways of corruption in offing... as long as this govt is finalizing this project. we will not accept any further deals under this Govt.

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MUHAMMAD ZAFAR IQBAl

Jul 11, 2017 05:00pm

its great to see Pakistan heading towards progress and prosperity however people like Ik , Sheikh Rashid and other like breed of despondent politicians who have been rejected by the people of pakistan will continue to make hue and cry on whatever the the development measures will undertaken by the incumbent government.

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babajee

Jul 11, 2017 05:04pm

@Asif I agree. I feel that PML[N] are going to reduce/limit Karachi airport`s importance as hub. With Sind govt in sleeping mode, Lahore will soon become the hub of all international/local flights as against Karachi. It is really sad.

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Awan

Jul 11, 2017 05:05pm

Do we really need to reconstruct the Lahore airport?

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A. Ali

Jul 11, 2017 05:05pm

@Ali - why only Lahore deserves the largest Airport ?... why not Peshawar, Pindi, Faisalabd or other place ?. whats so special about Lahore... why Lahore ???

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LILLY

Jul 11, 2017 05:06pm

@Shaffiq Mahmood True. It is true across Asia. When people are not having good standard of living, it is a waste to spend money on these. In fact Pakistan doesn't have requirement for an airport reconstruction as there are not much demands for air travel.

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Rationality

Jul 11, 2017 05:08pm

Very sad pakistan have lost the ability in construction also

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Boss man

Jul 11, 2017 05:08pm

Instead of creating local jobs, these will go in employing Chinese workers.

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KHAN SAHEB

Jul 11, 2017 05:09pm

@Agnello Sequeira Agree with Agnel

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Indian

Jul 11, 2017 05:09pm

@PopnRolla Right. Read about Chinese ghost cities

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SAK

Jul 11, 2017 05:12pm

@Ammar Khurshidi It sad story for Karachi which is controlled by PPP bunch of landlord, slowly killing the city of Karachi. Only way Karachi could be saved if it becomes a state that is not controlled by bunch of crooked landlords of PPP who never worked in there life since Pakistan was formed.

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LILLY

Jul 11, 2017 05:12pm

Airports are long term investments, not immediate requirement in a country where air travel doesn't have much demand. In that case, Pakistan could have assessed it's technical know-how of it's local industries in planning, designing and reconstruction of this airport instead of outright award to Chinese company. May be try out a JV. In that way local companies will get a chance to enhance their knowledge and can start to build buildings using it's own efforts. Investments can still come from China if it wills. Long term vision is very important and should not shun it for short term political and economic gains. 2 generations from now, you need strong citizens on knowledge and economic front. Should not trade one for the other.

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Asad

Jul 11, 2017 05:13pm

Its really sad that the countries resources are wasted on unnecessary projects where as more money needed to be spent on people who find it difficult to even have two meals a day

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LILLY

Jul 11, 2017 05:14pm

I can understand that Pakistan badly needs some success stories to project itself as an investment destination and I can only wish in that process the nation should not get carried away with the overwhelming loans from Chinese. Could seriously restrict their knowledge and technical know-how in the long run. Just my 2 cents.

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Manoj

Jul 11, 2017 05:17pm

Do we need a bigger airport in Lhe

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Reluance

Jul 11, 2017 05:23pm

Indians gives such contracts to their own companies. Make in India is growing

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random

Jul 11, 2017 05:26pm

The beginning of takeover of Pakistan economy. This will include subsequent maintenance and airport charges for passengers to pay. China will siphon all lucrative contracts leaving little choice with Pakistan Govt.

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khan-USA

Jul 11, 2017 05:27pm

Is there any other city in Pakistan or any other problem needs to be addressed other than Lahore. Let talk about even Lahore. There are 8 millions people in Lahore with Hepatitis C, 60% people have no clean drinking water. There are 2-4 patients on each bed in the hospitals and people die on the emergency floor. Traffic is jam and the city has 16-18 hours electric load shedding. Under these circumstances the govt. is spending billions on constructing something which does not need to, at lease for now.By the way where from these billions are coming from. I do not think the national debt is paid by each province at the ratio it is spent in the province. If that is not the case. Then why all the money is spent in one province and to be paid by the federal Govt. out of the Federal Budget. Construction of Centaurus Hotel in Lahore with Millions of dollalrs while the ADPs of Waziristan still waiting to go back, due to lack of funds is enough to think, like Bengalis before 1971.

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Khalid

Jul 11, 2017 05:31pm

The current Lahore Airport was made within last decade or so and by a Cypriot company of good repute. The link to their site mentioning Lahore Airport is given below: http://www.jandp-group.com/easyconsole.cfm/page/project/p_id/46 Now question is that why we need more investment in the airport. Has the old exhausted all its capacity?

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Max

Jul 11, 2017 05:32pm

Well that is one way to get into financial trouble, a individual can buy all sorts of things on credit thru various banks. But if he can't pay the installments they repo the stuff and also take his other collateral. Same is the case with every project done by China. With one difference the parties involved get their share of the pie and the general public will get stuck with the bill.

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Nagi

Jul 11, 2017 05:33pm

@SHAHRYAR SHIRAZI Fully support your views. Sindh government need to wake up

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Kedar

Jul 11, 2017 05:34pm

In India a company called GVK has modernised the Mumbai and Bengaluru airport. A company called GMR operates the Delhi and Hyderabad airport. These companies are INDIAN. I still remember Mumbai airport in 2005, which was like a typical Govt. building. But now you cannot make out if you are in India or some European country. Thanks to these people, we can construct, own and operate our airports, ourselves.

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s chaudhury

Jul 11, 2017 05:35pm

Very bad planning to put every thing in Lahore. Near Indian border what a stupid thinking. They need to consider other cities like Faisalabad to make such a big decision. Islamabad airport was not develop for years & when they did they made a mess.

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Muhammad

Jul 11, 2017 05:36pm

What's the justification except Lahore is the political base of the ruling party? It is not even on international air corridor like Karachi it.

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haris

Jul 11, 2017 05:37pm

@usman: When was it built? I thought Lahore Airport is the newest among all the airports in the country.

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Sid

Jul 11, 2017 05:38pm

Why not a Pakistani company? A needless outflow of money outside Pakistan.

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haris

Jul 11, 2017 05:39pm

@SHAHRYAR SHIRAZI : construction and maintenance of Airports and other ports come under Federal budget.

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ISHRAT SALIM

Jul 11, 2017 05:40pm

When the existing Lahore airport could be built by the Pakistani company, then why need Chinese now.

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P Datta

Jul 11, 2017 05:46pm

Why not any other country including Pakistan get any role play in OBOR? Always Chinese companies get it. The strategy is very clear.

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Sarai alamgir

Jul 11, 2017 05:53pm

@Tariq Alot of the western countries seem to be worried about how their investments will be seen in Pak via the lens of India, so they reluctant. Anyway, their loss.

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Mohammad Asghar

Jul 11, 2017 06:03pm

@Tariq too expensive.

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abbas

Jul 11, 2017 06:05pm

do we really need right now????

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Rehan

Jul 11, 2017 06:06pm

First make the investment where U got High Return if facilities already developed. Reconstruction of Lahore Airport is not appreciable as I had flown many times (Morning, Evening and Night) and I had common filling that the facilities of airport is still underutilized. Further if it is required then it must be construct as a Green Field and away from India, to give support to lhr in case of war.

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Abhishek

Jul 11, 2017 06:16pm

Dont trust chineese,they are pure businesman. Diverse your investment

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Jul 11, 2017 06:23pm

Karachi Airport is the busiest and not been upgraded from last 25 years wrt to Lahore airport just been built in 2003 and now the upgrade ??

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Jayshah

Jul 11, 2017 06:34pm

Why, why, why ..... the present Lahore airport is NOT obsolete. It is also under-utilized as is. We do not need to spend a lot of money yet again on this airport. The present terminal and runways are barely 15 to 20 years old

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Ashraf

Jul 11, 2017 06:41pm

I don't see the point of paying tax's anymore. It will be pocketed by foreigners no matter what I do.

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Philosopher (from Japan)

Jul 11, 2017 06:53pm

Made in China. Onwards I have stopped using this airport.

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Imam

Jul 11, 2017 08:10pm

@Tariq - sure you can give the same contract to US, Canada and Germany but please be prepared to pay 10 times more -this is call economics, you should read a book about it sometime

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Imam

Jul 11, 2017 08:10pm

Please build a new Islamabad airport first

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Ali

Jul 11, 2017 08:18pm

Excellent. Chinese companies have vast experience as 100 new airports are being built in China. The massive new Beijing airport will be ready by 2019. Pakistan civil aviation can greatly benefit from Chinese expertise and help. Long live Pakistan China friendship.

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Brijesh Kumar

Jul 11, 2017 08:23pm

Many people are asking why airport and why not other projects. Well, for one, this is Chinese sponsored project where they give soft loan to Pakistan for airport. They will build it using their own material and men. So whatever they pay as loan, would go back to them, and they would earn interest from Pakistan. Lets just say Pakistan fails to pay, they will just take over the airport. So in nutshell, Chinese are building an asset for themselves on the interest paid by Pakistanis.

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Mubasher

Jul 11, 2017 11:03pm

Its already under construction and Will be operational in August

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Adil306

Jul 12, 2017 12:13am

Start trusting our engineers and builders and get them the job done locally. Secondly, have the reconstruction job done at the remote areas where tourism is high at those areas. Thirdly, for a change and beautification give contract to European country.

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Mubasher

Jul 12, 2017 01:06am

@Jalbani Baloch Karachi airport Already have capacity to handle 12million passengers annually and it facilitated 6.5 million 2016 and Still have room for another 5.5 million passengers annually if the thing goes right with growing GDP Karachi will have largest airport not only in Pakistan but in South Asia

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Mubasher

Jul 12, 2017 01:13am

@common & immaterial it is under construction

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Bhola Bhala

Jul 12, 2017 05:46am

Appoint KGD Architecture. They designed Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Currently, one of the best airports in the world.

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Ans

Jul 12, 2017 06:04am

@Ammar Khurshidi why dont we ask this question to PPP who owns Sindh a d couldn't even complete BB Airport Islamabad

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common & immaterial

Jul 12, 2017 11:58am

@Mubasher good then people don't understand need to modernize airports. It is the first picture that foreign investors get of anycountry. They come prepared to see shabby & dirty roads/cities (in fact that's where to feel opportunity), but when they see airport at par with international standard then they get comfort about elite class of the country. I haven't done much of international traveling but as per my knowledge & also upon feedback of other travelers, I can safely say that delhi & now mumbai airport (international terminal) are as good as any other of world.

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Muhammad saeef

Jul 12, 2017 01:29pm

It is great work

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SADFACE

Jul 12, 2017 02:37pm

Why an airport in Lahore? Isn't the airport already new?

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Akram Shayzadag

Jul 12, 2017 02:51pm

Great Work

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Jul 12, 2017 03:28pm

It's very sad that in the last 4 years the government hasn't been able to develop pakistani resources to renovate the lahore airport and has to pay contractors from abroad. will the airport have space to fly and land space shuttles after the renovation work? will it attract more tourist passengers, who will spend in pakistani economy?

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Rajesh

Jul 12, 2017 03:47pm

Well, local companies must be awarded the contract for Pakistan's benifit. Since this is also the largest the Chinese company has done so far, why not take the risk to appoint a local company ? Gvk, lanco, DLF etc from India are few such examples that were given opportunities and they are now undertaking projects overseas. No bad intentions my frinds, just an opinion.

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Mubasher

Jul 12, 2017 04:03pm

@common & immaterial india has 6 times larger population then us Delhi airport handled 57million passengers in 2016 and lahore 4.7 and Karachi 6.5 the condition are totally different I am a frequent flyer of Karachi Lahore Islamabad and Peshawar I prefer to save money I live in Dubai and here you can get round trip fare of London at about 1250AED any time and from/to Lahore ticket are very expressive because most of the time tickets are sold out. Lahore airport have capacity of 4.5 million passengers annually and has facilitated 4.7 million in 2016

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Mubasher

Jul 12, 2017 04:12pm

Ticket prices are always based on demand and supplies just check ticket prices from Karachi to Lahore on Eid it Will be more expensive then that of London and from Lahore to Karachi affordable all the times

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Talha

Jul 12, 2017 05:57pm

Its easy for public like us to just sit at home idle and keeps on reading and commenting whatsoever we get in our mind, but, when it comes to facing foreign diplomacies we can't judge just by reading a single article. Russia had also been given an contract back in 2000's to construct pakistan steel mill area in karachi. It's just a matter of time and loyalties.

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SkHan

Jul 12, 2017 06:49pm

Is there enough traffic in Lahore for constructing such an expensive airport? Futile expenditure! Can't any Pakistani construction company construct the airport much cheaper?

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Truth

Jul 13, 2017 10:05am

Keeping in view poor state of Govt education and health facilities, should it be another high priority project. Seems another 'showcase project' of PMLN.

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DawnReader

Jul 14, 2017 07:01am

@Tariq All eggs in one basket. The government should give opportunity to other developed countries like Germany, UK, USA, and CANADA. The government unfortunately does not have a choice. The Chinese did not win in a bidding process. The governments hand was forced

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