QUETTA: The new runway of Quetta airport will be open for wide-body aircraft, including Boeing 777 and other passenger planes, next month, the Civil Avia­tion Authority chief operations officer told Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry leaders at a meeting on Tuesday.

Chief Operations Officer Malik Mazhar Hussain said with the opening of new run­way, the direct landing of flights from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Eruption countries would be possible at Quetta international airport.

Mr Hussain said the CAA needed cooperation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to provide best air travel facilities to the business community and every other person of Balochistan and expressed the hope all efforts would be made in this regard.

Since people associated with trade and industry were the guarantors of economic prosperity, providing facilities to them was among the government priorities, he said. “We will give priority to the suggestions given by the officials and members of the QCCI,” he added.

While mentioning the dil­apidated condition of highways and the suspension of railway services for past five months in the flood-hit province, Mr Achakzai and other QCCI leaders said fli­ghts of private airlines should be encouraged to boost competition among airlines.

He suggested that private companies should be obliged to arrange three to four weekly flights from Quetta so that people associated with industry and commerce and others could get travel facilities at best rates.

Published in Dawn, january 4th, 2023