RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Friday said it completed major projects in 2023 at a cost of about Rs18 billion and planned to improve airside infrastructure at some airports next year.
Giving details of the projects, a spokesman for the CAA said that by completing significant projects in 2023, such as upgrading the infrastructure for air travel, the CAA is advancing the nation’s economic goals, which will continue through 2024 and beyond.
He said that the Gwadar International Airport is now under construction at a cost of Rs51 billion, which includes a Chinese grant of about Rs34bn. It is expected to be completed by August 2024.
He said reconstruction and upgradation projects included the main runway of Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore.
The main runway was reconstructed and upgraded to allow Category F aircraft and normal flight operations on the airport resumed on July 29, 2022.
About Faisalabad International Airport, he said its old runway was rebuilt with a new concrete runway, and flight operations on it began on May 31, 2023. The new runway has an installed Airfield Lighting System of Category 1, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said the old runway of Quetta International Airport was reconstructed and upgraded for Category E (777) operations. It was completed, and flight operations began on it on May 31, 2023. The new runway, he said, has an installed Airfield Lighting System of Category 2.
The spokesman said there are some other projects which are anticipated to be completed in near future which included Muridke Aerodrome Project.
The spokesman said a new general aviation aerodrome is being constructed near Muridke and after its completion, the current Walton Aerodrome will be relocated there. The airside infrastructure, including the runway, apron, taxiways, and hangars, is planned to become operational by March next year, he said.
About new projects, the spokesman said that several new projects are currently in the pipeline for the year 2024 and beyond.
Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023