LAHORE, Dec 23: The commissioning of the new Allama Iqbal International Airport has been delayed further — from the first week of January to March 19, next year.

This was announced by PIAC chairman Hamid Nawaz Khan while talking to reporters at the new terminal complex on Monday.

The Civil Aviation Authority has already missed three formally announced deadlines for the regular commissioning of the new airport.

According to the first CAA schedule, the project was to be completed by Oct 31 last year. However, it was delayed till June 30 this year and then to Nov 9.

On Nov 4 last, the CAA director-general announced that the airport would be formally inaugurated by the president and the prime minister in the first week of January next year.

Replying a question, the PIAC chairman said the authorities did not want to organize a ‘sham inauguration’.

“By March 19, the airport will become totally operational and every facility at the old airport will be transferred to the new airport,” he said.

Mr Hamid said the PIA wanted to have a fully functional cargo village at the new terminal which would be ready by June-July next year.