Islamabad’s new airport to cater to 9 million passengers per year

Officials briefed Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on facilitation for passengers during his visit to new Islamabad International Airport on April 13, 2018. (Photo courtesy: Press Information Department)
Updated 14 April 2018
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Islamabad’s new airport to cater to 9 million passengers per year

  • A Pakistan International Airlines test flight landed on April 7
  • It is spread over 19 sq km

ISLAMABAD: The new Islamabad International Airport, with its 90 immigration counters, can cater to 9 million passengers per year, said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The airport, completed at an estimated cost of 85 billion Pakistani rupees ($735.3 million), will be formally inaugurated on April 20 for regular international and domestic flights.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited it on Friday.

Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Abbasi’s adviser on aviation, and senior CAA officials briefed the prime minister about the airport’s facilities.

On April 7, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) test flight landed at the airport to ensure its operational capabilities.

The airport is spread over 19 sq km, with two runways — each 3.5 km long — and 15 passenger boarding bridges.


Pakistan shuts key motorway routes as dense fog envelopes Punjab

Updated 20 min 17 sec ago
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Pakistan shuts key motorway routes as dense fog envelopes Punjab

  • Authorities close major routes as reduced visibility threatens to trigger accidents on motorway
  • Air quality of Lahore, Punjab’s provincial capital, recorded at alarming 322 AQI by IQAir index

LAHORE: Dense fog blanketed major motorways in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Tuesday (December 16), prompting authorities to shut down several key routes due to severely reduced visibility and heightened accident risks. 

Lahore’s air quality was recorded at an alarming 322 AQI at 6 AM (0100 GMT), earning the dubious title of the world’s most polluted city.

Frustration mounted among stranded commuters, with Mohammad Naeem venting, “We’ve been waiting since 6 AM. The buses are ready, but we haven’t been allowed to board, and we’re not being informed.”

Fellow passenger Hafiz Safar Abbas echoed his sentiment. “The public is uncertain. If the weather clears, the motorways should reopen immediately,” he said

Government authorities are monitoring the situation, working to reopen the motorways once conditions improve, while travelers are urged to stay patient and informed.