Further to the letter ‘Filthy airport’ (Sept 10), I observed the following discrepancies during my visit to Karachi airport on Sept 11. Cooling in the domestic departure lounge was minimal and there were a lot of flies in the waiting area.

There was no wi-fi coverage hence no WhatsApp messages could be sent or received. There was no cup at the water cooler. A notice on the wall said that the same could be obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) facilitation counter.

Passenger walkways from arrivals to the pick-up point were blocked by chains and spikes, leaving only one narrow exit where there was a logjam of baggage trolleys with passengers trying to squeeze through the narrow space.

At all international airports of the world I have visited (at least 20) there is a bus service which takes tourists to the city centre for a nominal charge. Here tourists have to take expensive airport taxis which may not fit their budget.

Moreover, there are hundreds of employees working at the airport round the clock. Is everyone expected to have their own transport? What about the ladies who attend night shifts?

The CAA earns billions of rupees through heavy taxes. Yet the facilities at the airport of the biggest metropolis and commercial hub of the country leave much to be desired.

Asif Jah
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2020