IF anyone has the misfortune of flying through Peshawar airport, he will know how horrible their experience is. This is because Peshawar airport is small and busy.

It not only serves the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but also Fata, Gilgit-Baltistan and Afghanistan owing to its location.

The previous government had shown some interest in constructing a new and bigger airport for Peshawar. Instead, a new airport was constructed in Islamabad. The previous government cited security issues in KP for this change.

Although constructing a new airport in Peshawar is important, it will take many years. It is surprising that there are five other closed airports which can easily and quickly be converted into international or national airports. These airports are in Abbotabad, D.I. Khan, Bannu, Saidu Sharif and the Tarbela dam near Peshawar.

By converting them into international airports, we can reduce pressure on Peshawar airport, while also reducing air traffic in Peshawar and problems that air travellers face when travelling through crowded Peshawar airport.

S. Khan

Peshawar

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2018