Sialkot airport to be operational from next week

Sialkot International Airport will be operational in second week of current month and initially cargo and domestic flights would be operated. Airport sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that this mega project costing Rs 2 billion had a great significance as it was totally financed by the private sector.
The project had undertaken on build, own and operate (BOO) basis. This modern and professionally designed International Airport has been developed over 1004 acres of land and fully equipped for handling B747-400, A300 and 737 aircraft. Most modern apron having the parking capacity for six wide-bodies aircraft or three airbus plus F-27 aircraft had been constructed at the airport. Besides 3600 meter long, 45-meter wide taxiway had also been constructed, they said.
The longest international runway of the country measuring 3.6 km had been constructed and it would cater to the requirements of all aircraft used for international and domestic cargo and passenger traffic. The work on main passenger terminal was in full swing, however, temporary arrangements had been made to accommodate passengers at the airport, they said.
The airport will not only cater to the needs of golden industrial triangle of Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat but also generate thousands employment opportunities besides bringing a revolutionary change in the socio-economic development of the region.
With the merging of Dry Port, Export Processing Zone and Airport at Sialkot, it will ultimately help substantial increase in the exports from the area in future. Besides, the construction of mega project of Sialkot-Lahore motorway and setting up of an engineering university and industrial zone in the area had further increased the importance of the airport.
In the absence of airport, the exporters of Sialkot were confronting with multifarious problems because the air cargo from the area was sent via Lahore and Islamabad airports. With the support and co-operation of the government the construction of airport has been given practical shape, which would ultimately help reduce the logistic problems of exporters of the region.
The potential traffic forecast for Sialkot international airport is scaled down at the time of opening to 530,339 passengers a year while estimated cargo tonnage at the time of opening is expected to be 285,15 tonnes. This means that by the end of year 2012 about 53,000 tonnes of cargo will be lifted from the Airport.
Due to the provision of passenger facilities at Sialkot International Airport, it was estimated that the general public would benefit to the tune of over Rs 2 billion in terms of time and money savings.
Similarly, cargo handling at the airport would save more than Rs 1 billion for the businesses. The total saving of at least Rs 3 billion annually would be a perpetual benefit. The business community has played significant role in undertaking such a huge airport project elegantly on self-reliance basis for fulfilling their dream.