LAHORE, April 9: Civil Aviation Authority director-general Saleem Arshad has announced that a modern cargo terminal at new Allama Iqbal International Airport terminal will be ready within eight or nine months to cater to perishable and other cargo items.

Speaking to executive committee members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday, Mr Arshad said the authority was intensely working to finalize a feasible option to build a modern cargo terminal at the new airport. He, however, said that he would be happy if the CAA would itself develop a cargo facility.

He said the South Asia region had greater potential of increase in passengers and cargo as compared to the growth at global level. In South Asia, he said, passengers and cargo are increasing at five per cent and 6.7 per cent annually as compared to the global annual growth potential of 3.4 per cent and 5.5 per cent, respectively.

Currently, he said, an interim facility has been developed at the new airport in consultation with different airlines.

Mr Arshad said the CAA was also working intensely to commercialize every inch of the space available at the new terminal and compounds outside the terminal. He said the space would be provided to the reputable brand names to set up a hotel, a catering, ground-handling facilities besides business, expo and convention centres to provide every facility to foreigners at the airport.

Denying that he had announced that an Expo Centre would be established at the old airport, he said, the establishment of an Expo Centre was not in his hands. He, however, said the Expo Centre provided a window to foreign importers and exporters and allow local businessmen to display their products.

Mr Arshad said the CAA wanted local airlines to flourish and fulfil their requirements. As the South Asian region was a volatile region having an impact on aviation industry, he said the CAA would strive to bring in more and more reputed foreign airlines for the image-building of airports in particular and the country at large. He said the new airport was functioning smoothly and the emerging hiccups would be solved on a day-to-day basis.

Later, answering a question, he said the general aviation was a very important segment of the CAA and would be encouraged to prosper.

“No hurdle will be created in the operations of the general aviation,” he said.

Earlier, LCCI president Yawar Irfan Khan presented the address of welcome and explained some demands of the chamber members.