Sialkot Airport to be operational from August 14

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 5:37 am

SIALKOT (April 22 2006): Sialkot International Airport (website www.sial.com.pk) costing Rs two billion would be operational likely on August 14th this year said Chief Executive Sialkot International Airport Khawar Anwar Khawaja.

The country's longest runway measuring 3.6 KM had been completed which would provide landing and take off facilities to Boeing 747 and other aircraft in bad weather like mist, he added.

Talking to reporters here on Friday he disclosed that cargo terminal, apron and external roads of the airport had also been completed adding that terminal for domestic passengers was nearing completion. Khawar Anwar Khawaja said that according to a rough estimate over ten thousand exporters of Sialkot besides a large number of exporters and other passengers of Gujrat, Narowal, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Wazirabad, Jehlum and Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) would be benefited with the completion of this mega project.

The regular functioning of the airport would not only accelerate the pace of trade and commerce activities but also help enhancing the export volume to many fold while generate wide employment opportunities in the area he foresees.

The Sialkot International Airport was being developed on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis and the airport at Sialkot would be a landmark not only in the history of this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industries but also for the country.

This mega project had a great significance because it was being totally financed by the private sector. The private sector had not built a project of this magnitude and size so far in the country, he added.

The Sialkot International Airport would fully cater the needs of golden industrial triangle of Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat. Undoubtedly, the airport will bring a revolutionary change in the socio-economic development of the region. With the merging of Dry Port, Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and Airport at Sialkot, the importance of the area will further enhance which will ultimately help substantial increase in the exports from the area in future.

The Sialkot Airport is being developed over 1004 acres of land about 13 KM to West of Sialkot where best airport facilities would be available besides sufficient space has also been reserved and allocated at airport for Airlines offices, aircraft catering units, ground handling services, cargo warehouses, restaurant and car parking etc.

It may be mentioned that in the absence of airport, the exporters of Sialkot are confronting with multifarious problems because the air cargo from the area is sent via Lahore and Islamabad airports.

According to a rough estimate 60 percent of aircraft movement will be for domestic while 40 percent will be for the international carriers. The potential traffic forecast for Sialkot international airport is scaled down at the time of opening to 472,000 passengers a year while estimated cargo tonnage at the time of opening is expected to be 24,000 tonnes. This means that by the end of year 2012 about 53,000 tones of cargo will be lifted from Sialkot International Airport.

Source: Business Recorder

AirBlue · Post by **AirBlue** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:02 pm

i hopes its all ready when they open it ... not like that half of it is open n the rest has construction going on being a problem for the cargo and pax.

B777240ER · Post by **B777240ER** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:24 pm

parking for 4 wide-bodied aircraft at a time or 3 Airbus plus 3 F-27 aircraft at a time.

I assume they are talking about A320 family?

PK777 · Post by **PK777** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 7:29 pm

Good to hear, lets get some pics