ISLAMABAD, April 29: The construction of new Islamabad International Airport would begin by the end of this year and the project would be completed in three years at a cost of Rs18 billion.

This was stated by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director- General Air Marshal (retired) Pervez Nawaz while talking to reporters on Saturday after giving a presentation to President Musharraf on CAA.

The design of the new airport, he said, would be completed by the middle of next month, while land acquisition for the project has already been completed.

About the Gwadar Airport, the DG said the CAA was expecting to get possession of the land for the project next month. Reputed international companies have been invited for the design and project management.

Gwadar Airport would have an open sky policy for attracting foreign investors and bolstering tourism.