SIALKOT, Feb 6: The Sialkot international airport has entered its final stages of completion.

This was disclosed by Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) chairman Babar Iqbal while talking to journalists here on Monday.

He said the airport would be operational in June, 2006, with a total expenditure of Rs2 billion on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis under the supervision of SIAL and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The SIAL chairman said the construction of 3.6 kilometre long runway, cargo terminal and customs house buildings had been completed while the work on passengers terminal and air traffic control building was nearing completion.

He said the latest equipment worth millions of rupees had been imported from Australia for the ATC Tower.

The first cargo flight, he said, would commence from June while the first passenger flight would take off in December, 2006.

He said the regular functioning of Sialkot airport would not only accelerate the pace of trade and commerce in the region but would also help in enhancing exports volume manifold.