KARACHI, Jan 18: The government is fully alive to the enormous air traffic potential of the region and it has taken steps to encourage and facilitate the growth of aviation industry.

This was stated by Senior Federal Minister for Defence, Rao Sikander Iqbal while addressing the 22nd anniversary celebrations of Shaheen Airport Services (SAPS) - a subsidiary of Shaheen Foundation, here on Sunday night.

He said that the Asia Pacific region was the fastest growing air traffic market in the world at present. More than half of the world air traffic, he added, would be travelling through Asia Pacific and Middle East region in the near future. The annual growth in the region was approximately seven per cent, he said.

The minister appreciated the Shaheen Services that commissioned a new cargo terminal at Peshawar airport and worked for development of a cargo complex at Lahore, which would attract foreign airlines and facilitate import and export of cargo.

The Executive Director of Shaheen Air Services, Muhammad Ali Shah; Managing Director of Shaheen Foundation, Air Marshal Saeed Anwar; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat were present on the occasion. -APP