ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) C-130 aircraft was declared runner-up in the prestigious Royal International Air Tattoo Show 2018 in the UK, PAF said in a statement on Sunday.
“It was a moment of joy for the PAF when an aesthetically painted PAF C-130 was honored out of 300 aircraft in this mega show,” the statement added.
Pakistani Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan was also at the venue to witness the static display of the squadron’s Hercules.
He congratulated the PAF contingent for their excellent performance and raising the country’s flag high in the mega event.
He said he hoped it would go a long way in projecting the soft image of the country across the world. “PAF C-130 stole the show with its attractive and artistically painted color scheme,” the Air Chief Marshal added.
The participating military and civilian aircraft included USAF F-35A, French Air Force Rafale C, German Air Force Tornado IDS and RAF Red Arrows on display at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
Earlier, the air chief attended Chief of the Air Staff’s Air Power Conference with a theme “Building the Next Generation Air Force.”
Senior government ministers, high-ranking officials and up to 60 international air chiefs from across the world attended the Air Power Conference.
“Presently, the air chief is on an official visit to the UK, on the invitation of Royal Air Force, to further boost the strong ties between two great forces,” PAF said in a statement.
Pakistani aircraft wins laurels at Royal Air Tattoo Show
Pakistani aircraft wins laurels at Royal Air Tattoo Show
- Pakistan Air Force (PAF) C-130 was honored out of 300 aircraft in this mega show at UK
Sindh chief minister pledges compensation within two months after Karachi plaza fire
- Murad Ali Shah says government is working with Karachi chamber to help shopkeepers restart businesses
- January fire that killed at least 67 brought safety of Karachi’s commercial buildings under sharp focus
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Friday compensation for shopkeepers affected by last month’s deadly Gul Plaza shopping mall blaze would be released within two months amid calls for improved fire safety regulations to protect commercial buildings in Karachi.
The fire at Gul Plaza in January killed at least 67 people and left more than 15 missing, triggering renewed criticism of lax enforcement of building codes and emergency preparedness in Pakistan’s largest city.
Authorities said the blaze spread rapidly through the multi-story commercial complex, complicating rescue efforts and raising questions about wiring, access routes and fire safety systems in older markets.
“The government in collaboration with the Karachi Chamber is actively working to help shopkeepers restart their businesses and aims to ensure that compensation is provided within two months so that the shopkeepers can buy inventories to restart their businesses,” the chief minister said while addressing the inauguration of the My Karachi Exhibition, an annual trade and consumer exhibition, according to an official statement.
He said temporary locations had been identified where shopkeepers could operate rent-free until reconstruction is completed, paying only basic maintenance costs.
Shah reiterated the Sindh administration’s commitment to provide Rs 10 million ($36,000) to the families of those who died in the fire, along with immediate relief of Rs 500,000 ($1,785) for affected shopkeepers.
He said Gul Plaza would be rebuilt within two years “in the same manner and with the same number of shops,” adding that the new structure would be safer and constructed “without a single square inch extra.”
Business leaders at the event called for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards across Karachi’s commercial districts, citing unregulated electrical wiring and poor compliance as recurring causes of deadly market fires.
