GUJRAT: The management of Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) has sought connectivity of the airport with Sambrial-Kharian motorway through construction of a proper interchange.

However, the National Highways Authority (NHA) has expressed its readiness to at least give an approach to the motorway for the airport instead of a proper interchange, official sources told Dawn on Friday.

The construction of an interchange may cost a sum around Rs550 million, while it would also require a change in the Sambrial-Kharian motorway design which could further delay the project’s execution, the sources added.

The SIAL management has been seeking approval for such a link road for the last couple of years and along with prime minister’s special assistant Usman Dar it held two meetings with the NHA chairman recently where the authority also expressed its willingness to accommodate the demand of Sialkot’s business community.

SIAL chairman Khawaja Masood told Dawn that as per the map and design of Sambrial-Kharian motorway, an extension of Sialkot-Lahore motorway (M-11), it would pass hardly 500 metres away from Sialkot airport.

He said such connectivity of the motorway with the airport would contribute towards social and economic uplift to the upper Punjab region (Gujrat, Jhelum, Gujjar Khan), besides lower Kashmir districts of Mirpur and Bhimbher etc).

He said though the NHA chairman had approved the airport-motorway link at the last meeting held a few weeks ago, however, pros and cons of the project were yet to be considered.

Official sources said the two separate ramps would have to be built to connect the airport with both sides of the motorway and the SIAL management was even ready to fund the project in case the government cites financial constraints.

Mr Masood said the Punjab chief minister had announced re-carpeting of an 11-kilometre long dual carriage way between Sialkot and Sambrial round about to facilitate the local exporters and citizens, whereas the rehabilitation and widening of 6.5-kilometre long road from Sambrial dry port to Sialkot airport had already been approved at the cost of Rs300 million.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2021