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The airport manager of the Islamabad International Airport (IAA) has been dismissed after stray dogs were seen wandering the facility's premises on video, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.
Footage obtained by DawnNewsTV shows a pack of at least five stray dogs roaming outside the airport's lounge in the basement. In a potential safety hazard, the dogs can be heard barking at passengers proceedings towards the parking with their luggage.
Officials at IAA told DawnNewsTV this was not a one-off incident; strays dogs have been spotted on the airport's premises regularly in recent weeks. They said frightened passengers have repeatedly alerted Airport Security Force (ASF) officials about the dogs' presence, but no action was taken.
That stray dogs have been able to come as close as the arrival lounge of the airport is proof of negligence on the part of ASF and CAA, passengers said.
Taking "strict notice" of media reports about the dogs' presence at the IIA, the director general of CAA ordered the removal of airport manager Asghar Faheem Khattak from his post and directed that an inquiry be conducted into the matter.
"The DG CAA... has issued orders to dismiss airport manager of Islamabad airport on an immediate basis," a statement issued by the authority's spokesperson said.
An official privy to the matter, while talking to Dawn.com, observed that it was primarily the responsibility of ASF to ensure the safety and security of the airport and passengers.
The official classified the incident as a safety breach on their [ASF] part that so many dogs were able to enter the facility's premises.
He wondered if unwelcome human visitors could enter the airport in a similar fashion as well, putting its security at risk.
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Comments (44) Closed
Oct 01, 2018 07:23pm
I hope they didnt end killing those poor dogs. please hand them over to rescue
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Oct 01, 2018 07:24pm
Good move! The officials should do their work with diligence. The conduct of the subordinate officers should be looked into as well. We must reduce the incidents of negligence at all levels.
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Oct 01, 2018 07:35pm
Good and quick action
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Oct 01, 2018 07:36pm
They should also keep a check on the airline staff issuing boarding passes. Each time I travel through ISB airport, there is some sort of airport tax levied upon me without a receipt. My extended itinerary from UK to CHina, Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan suffered only in ISB airport asking for more money. I am sure its some sort of corruption and I am going to report it to the concerned international airline (Emirates).
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Oct 01, 2018 07:37pm
Incompetence galore!
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Oct 01, 2018 07:56pm
Pakistani dogs they have as much right to be in the public area.
Why remove the Airport manager, he did not invite them.
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Oct 01, 2018 08:01pm
A completely pathetic & poignant situation wherein the running around on street and feeding on garbage have now visibly found a new sanctuary with courtesy of ASF and administration of Islamabad Airport. Since this is not one time event, one gets flabbergasted to read such happenings right under the nose of sitting govt. & indifference of those destined with security of this facility, treating this repeated incursions of stray dogs with laxity. Besides sacking of the airport manager, definitely a thorough overhaul of the whole security is direly needed & if required more terminations of negligent and inefficient staff to follow. On the other hand this event shows the decay and complete breakdown of administration relating to govt. institutions requiring an imposing surgical cure. The country’s bureaucracy needs to be pulled up to become more proactive / efficient & made to castaway its lethargic and do nothing attitude, through constant oversight of a committee appointed by the govt.
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Oct 01, 2018 08:04pm
It is a joint responsibility of CAA and ASF for security of the airport.Why only CAA has been made responsible only.
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Oct 01, 2018 08:10pm
Just five stray dogs ?
The sector I live in Islamabad, a herd of no less than 8 to 10 dogs freely roams in the streets. These dogs are a danerous nuisance for the pedestrians.
I have written to the authorities a number of times. No action has been taken.
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Oct 01, 2018 08:11pm
Is this the responsibility of manager?
There are security people ,civil aviation authority police
Airport security? Why manager is targeted? Is there no common sense?
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Oct 01, 2018 08:14pm
@Sami Ullah please don't mix up the issue.
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Oct 01, 2018 08:28pm
Pathetic is not the word to describe this situation .Bad habits will die hard .
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Oct 01, 2018 08:28pm
Thanks for firing Airport manager for the safety of our passengers and hygiene of area. This news should be in all newspapers to warn management, managers of government inst who draw a fat check to execute their duties earnestly.
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Oct 01, 2018 09:07pm
This new airport is a dump. Poor quality building, fixtures and fittings.
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Oct 01, 2018 09:38pm
If Dogs could get in,then so good terrorist ?Shameful security arrangements !
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Oct 01, 2018 09:43pm
Both CAA and ASF responsibility.
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Oct 01, 2018 09:53pm
I am speechless . Brand new airport after spending billions and this is the news you get to see . When will we get professional.
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Oct 01, 2018 10:28pm
I am not sure if Pak gets any tourists but after seeing this I doubt anyone will like to visit
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Oct 01, 2018 10:48pm
How are they allowed responsibility for managing an airport when they can't manage to keep dogs out?
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Oct 02, 2018 12:20am
Bad practice, let him fix the problem first. He is not personally responsible but but people reporting to him are responsible of making sure that dogs don’t find their way to the airport. No one should be sacked before finding the root cause of any problem.
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Oct 02, 2018 12:43am
People, not buildings make an airport. The old careless staff from the old airport is literally running this new facility into ground. The heaps of garbage are especially shocking.
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Oct 02, 2018 02:28am
Another safety hazard is going to the dirty new toilets.
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Oct 02, 2018 03:03am
How can the manager be held responsible. It’s just stray dogs
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Oct 02, 2018 03:33am
Why such quick dismissal? The Lahore International is the dirtiest airport, no soap, no papers in the toilet rooms. I had personally seen cleaning crew smoking in the toilet areas. There is also collussion between the porters and the booking staff as anyone with luggage hauled by porters goes direct to the front of line.
Here, in this case, don't set a bad precedent, the manager's fundamental rights to fair hearing should not be ignored. Stop giving us surprizes all the time. We should follow the written procedure.
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Oct 02, 2018 03:52am
need to take action. It is 21st century.
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Oct 02, 2018 03:53am
this is overreaction. The poor guy lost his job
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Oct 02, 2018 04:20am
Of stray dogs are roaming in the new terminal; i can only guess how much of a security is being provided to the pasangers incase of a bomb threat.
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Oct 02, 2018 05:09am
International standard indeed.
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Oct 02, 2018 05:50am
Finally, I thought no one could take action against airport officials regardless of how much they loot passengers or destroy airport. Islamabad airport is the worst the officials there are so corrupt that they ask for bribes in front of their seniors and later they share it. If u are traveling and you don’t give bribes be prepared for hardship at Islamabad airport.
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Oct 02, 2018 06:04am
It would be in CAA's interest if the operation of the facility is farmed out to a reputable operator.
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Oct 02, 2018 06:05am
Problem is, airport is good but people are same. Nothing changed apart from building.
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Oct 02, 2018 07:32am
Good action taken by the authorities.if unknown person got into to the airport he can do ,what he want.
So kindly treat the dogs humbly.
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Oct 02, 2018 07:46am
Funny!!
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Oct 02, 2018 08:11am
Where in the Pakistan are not stray dogs????
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Oct 02, 2018 08:13am
No big deal! It is common in Bangalore airport! Secular country!
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Oct 03, 2018 02:13am
This manager perhaps never did mention in his resume; when applying
for this job; that he never had the experience of keeping away stray dogs
from the airport area!!
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Oct 03, 2018 08:00am
@Amjad Durrani Engineer USA Well said brother. Inshallah!
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Oct 03, 2018 08:22am
Did the airport manager have anything to do with stray dogs? Airport manager should have been sacked with a few others in the maintenance for the poor upkeep of the airport. Many other flaws in the new airport.
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Oct 03, 2018 09:08am
what about the dogs present inside the airport who demands bribe?
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Oct 03, 2018 10:08am
Spending decades on making this new airport and awaiting billions of this poor country has not been able to make this airport worth for anything. Water ponds on the runways, garbage on the floors, unprofessional and unserious attitude of staff, laziness and stuberness in the body language of airport staff and more and more shows this airport sucks. Shame on the governments, politicians, planners, designers, managers, and everyone who was part of its development and its running. Learn from other countries how a service oriented airports are built and run. I personally and many people I know were very much disappointed by the airport.
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Oct 03, 2018 10:16am
Nawaz Shariff and family protesting to remove their names from ECL.
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Oct 03, 2018 01:54pm
So now dogs do not have the right to travel? This is utter discrimination against man's best friend!
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Oct 03, 2018 05:28pm
Airport Manager is not at fault that stray dogs came inside the terminal. Its the fault of the ASF security personnel manning the doors who should be sacked. The CAA must also be held responsible for approving such security measures. If dogs could get in so easily, so could terrorists posing as passengers. The security plan had failed, it must be reviewed and changed to make it 100% effective.
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Oct 04, 2018 12:19am
What a silly, cruel, brutal, fake and stupid joke?
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