ISLAMABAD: The ministry of defense and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has decided to hire services of Frontier Constabulary (FC) for security of new Gwadar international airport to be built in next three years with total cost of Rs. 7.67 billion.The CAA has also made it clear that the construction of new Peshawar airport would not be completed even in upcoming five years if Rs. 9 billion were not released by Government.
The high level authorities of ministry of defense and CAA were giving briefing to Senate Standing Committee on Defense which met under the chairmanship of Committee Chairman Lt. Gen. (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi here on Thursday. The committee was informed that Gwadar airport would cover area of 4,300 acre land, however, only 70 Percent land could be acquired so far just because of security issue.The officials informed the committee that CAA is also trying its level best to settle dispute with land owners. CAA had to stop work many times of because of security reason in Gwadar. The committee was told that the Balochistan Government has also refused to lend security despite repeated request.
Additional Secretary Defense Haider Ali Khan said that the services of FC would be hired to resume work to construct Gwadar airport and talks in this regard is underway with Chief Minister Balochistan because deployment of FC in Balochistan has become Political issue. Chairman Committee Javed Ashraf Qazi directed Additional Secretary Defense to finalize consultation with Balochistan Government.The committee was informed that only 27 Percent work has been completed so far. During last three years, Rs 240 million were utilized but work to erect fence around the acquired land could not be completed. Replying to a question, the Additional Secretary Defense informed the committee that Rs. 1.1 billion has been allocated for the mega-Project in upcoming fiscal year.
Rs. 1.5 billion has been paid to land owners to acquire land for Gwadar airport but the owners are demanding more money, he added. The meeting was also briefed about expansion of Peshawar airport. The committee was told that Rs. 9 billion is needed for expansion work of airport. Rs. 2.7 billion is needed to acquire land from Pakistan army, Rs. 290 million is needed to reconstruct Pakistan air force installation and Rs. 6 billion is needed for construction of new terminal building. – Onlinenews
