QUETTA: Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, along with Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan, on Wednesday performed the groundbreaking of a new runway at Quetta International Airport.

Speaking on the occasion, the aviation minister said the federal government believed in equal rights of all federating units and a new runway and an international lounge at Quetta airport would ensure quality facilities for passengers.

He said the Quetta airport handled half a million passengers annually with 38 flights every week, so the new runway would enhance flight operations and the airport would now be able to handle 1.6m passengers annually.

He said the construction of a new lounge was started in 2016 at a cost of Rs3 billion.

The minister said the terminal area had been increased from 73,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet, while the number of check-in counters had been enhanced from three to 12 and immigration counters from eight to 26.

The number of baggage belts for domestic and international flights had been doubled, while four escalators and four elevators had been installed at the airport, he added.

Mr Khan said after the completion of work on the new runway, flight operations with large aircraft Boeing 777 from Balochistan would become possible.

He said the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had started Haj flights from Quetta.

In his address, Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan said his government completed development schemes which had been pending since 2001.

He said Balochistan offered investment vast opportunities in oil, gas, tourism, agriculture, fisheries and tourism sectors.

“Balochistan will become self-sufficient if we are able to utilise our own resources,” he added.

The chief minister said the new runway would allow landing of Boeing 777 and other big aircraft in Quetta.

He said the importance of Quetta and Gwadar airports had increased following Chinese investment in the province.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2020