Sialkot International Airport, a rare example of private public partnership, a sole initiative of corporate sector, has started the operation of passenger flights and is afoot to operate cargo flight as well, after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had issued certification for the operation and had admired the high quality of its runway and other facilities established or provided at the airport which were declared to be of international standard.
Two highly successful flights of an Airbus 320 of Air Blue and PK-613 of PIA were carried out superbly with smooth landing and fine take-off. The pilots of both the planes later congratulated the builders. PIA then announced its first scheduled flight for Karachi-Sialkot-Karachi twice a week. Now these flights are operating regularly.
Initially, the airport was supposed to start functioning for uplifting of international cargo abundantly found in Sialkot but now the domestic flights have preceded to the great joy and comfort of the people. It will gradually pick up for international flights. Some world airlines have already shown their eagerness to capture the market on first come first basis. Negotiations for this purpose are underway.
Authorities from PIA, Air blue, Emirates, Lufthansa, BA have already visited the airport. Pakistan is fortunate to have a globally recognised Industrial City of Sialkot, where the business community, through their sheer willpower, hard work, commitment and dedication to work had decided to build their own airport by themselves on self help basis after this facility was denied to them.
An extremely bold step, a unique one of its kind in the private sector to take up the challenge of constructing an international airport after governments of various times, were not ready to build. The historic decision was made in a meeting of the business community body held in the Shafi Hall Conference Room of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry some six and a half years ago.
The dream came true due to determination, exemplary courage though with humble, meek but sure individual commitments, not caring for the returns, rampant with a desire to do something for the posterity on the golden principle that a grandfather sows and the grand children reap.
The idea of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce took shape of a world class airport spread over 1050 acres of land. It is never too late. Every dusk has a dawn and every cloud has a silver lining. The people of Sialkot and of the whole region are jubilant on this achievement and deservedly feel proud about it. They are to be congratulated in this tumultuous time for their glory of achievement.
The country passed through a phase of gloom and high despondency and in these circumstances, the Directors showed a unity of purpose unhindered by adverse conditions, upheld their morale and created an international airport, their first ever experience and with lowest possible cost.
They have in fact weighed every brick and measured every inch, spent from their pockets in the same fashion as one builds his own house with sympathy and concern. Businessmen have shown prominent unity among their ranks and have regularly held periodical meetings to discuss various phases of construction and investment.
They have toiled day and night to make ready an airport for their country in a period as one can take when building his house, with their own expense and hard work. Can there be another example in the country?
BOO is the moto which means Build, Own and Operate. All these three feats have been achieved in Sialkot international airport. Despondency of the past has disappeared. The task is accomplished by different committees formed for the airport administration. The historic step of the private sector to take up the challenge of the construction of an airport will largely benefit the national economy and the whole nation will enjoy the fruits of this venture.
An enormous improvement of Sialkot based industries, feeding world requirements of sporting goods, surgical instruments, musical instruments, martial arts, fitness articles, hosiery sports wears, uncountable gift and novelty articles and badges, providing a good quality living for its inhabitants, who continue to contribute to build city roads, hospitals, schools and many other civic amenities, present an enviable example on self help basis by depositing voluntarily in their City Development Fund a mere 0.10% of their export earnings, a remarkable individual act indeed.
Sialkot has set an example of civic leadership and responsibility that other cities will one day follow. No wonder a thesis has been carried out in the university of Columbia and similar thesises are being written in other parts of the world on the Sialkot City package development projects and the colossal efforts made in private sector on self-help basis by its people.
The mega project of Sialkot international airport will be completed with a total cost of Rs 3.00 billion, including the price of 1050 acres of land. It has a great significance because it has solely been financed by private businessmen (mostly exporters) and so far the private sector had not built a project of this magnitude and size anywhere else in the whole of South Asia.
The airport has a long runway which is 3.60km and 45m wide of a high quality structure and has been approved for efficient landing of Boeing 747.400 and Airbuses of all categories. So far it is the longest international runway in our country.
The airport has most modern apron having parking capacity for six wide body aircraft plus F-27 aircraft. PIA's operation DGM Zia Rehman during his last visit, expressed his satisfaction over the facilities provided at the Airport. The work on the main passenger terminal is in full swing. Meanwhile, temporary arrangements have been made using one of the cargo buildings for domestic traffic besides cargo lifting.
In the year 2008 international flights will also start operating. The potential passenger traffic forecast has been made to the tune of 550000 annually, while the targeted cargo tonnage is 30000 or more. Direct flights to Europe and Middle East will further open up the vistas of marked future successes and usher in a new era of a profuse economic activity of this region. PIA has announced a Dubai bound flight for early 2008.
Sialkot is one of the world's leading manufacturers of sports goods industry and has been so for over a century. The city has specialised in making surgical instruments now used in some of the best hospitals of the world. High class industries built all around Sialkot are a treat to watch from outside and more wondrous when visited from inside.
They seem to leave behind the European industries. These industries have most modern ways of manufacturing procedures. For years and years, the business community of Sialkot, led by its exporters had urged every government that came to office legally or otherwise to build an airport that would enable their export goods to be flown over expeditiously and without the hassle and the expense in time and money for transportation to Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad, the answer every time was no.
Reason given was that since Sialkot was practically on the border with Jammu, it would undermine national security to build an airport here from defence point of view, forgetting that Lahore airport was also more close to Indian border and for that matter it should have been depositioned as well. Finally good reason prevailed and the genuine efforts were rewarded in the shape of permission being granted by the regime.
The businessmen of the city joined hands under the umbrella of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, each one of them contributing five million of his own hard earned money to build the airport that would handle both passenger and cargo traffic.
Sialkot being a historical city, a brief geographical and historical preview will not be out of place to mention here for the interest of readers. Sialkot city's north eastern contours are extending up to the vicinity of Jammu. Surrounding snow capped mountains overlook the city in winter times. Jammu is 28 miles away which means a less than an hour's drive by car. A road and rail link still exists, though in shambles.
In the days of undivided subcontinent, a big source of fine wood for cricket bats, hockey sticks, seat sticks and a good quantity of raw leather used to come to Sialkot based industries from these adjoining areas. Sialkot served as a gateway to Kashmir, the nearest and most comfortable route to Srinagar.
The sports goods industry flourished before partition but survived after the partition due to endless hard work of its pioneers and workers. Notwithstanding political barriers, the border between Sialkot and Jammu should be opened like that of Wagah border which is between Lahore and Amritsar, where local trade has started. Hence trade can also be restarted between Sialkot and Jammu.
This is the desire of Sialkot people and its entrepreneurs because this would bring prosperity in this region unrivaled in history. Credit of the Sialkot people by having built an international airport by themselves could contribute to the development of a possible facility for the people on the other side of the divide as well in the years to come.
The airport might also serve as an alternate airport for many other airports as it is desired to be fog resistant of cat-2 standard to be further upgraded. A collaboration on the pattern of Schengen States should be possible in our region of South Asia.
In the famous books of Hindu religion namely "Mahabharat" one finds the mention of the historical city of Sialkot and its fort which was founded about five thousand years ago by Raja Shalban, or Salban. The city came to be known as Salkot and later Sialkot.
Very close to the airport is a village with the name 'Roras', where a very famous Rani of Raja Salban used to reside in her palaces. Her caravan used to be driven by horses on Roras road which still exists. But there are hardly left any remnants of her palaces in the Roras village.
The road is ensuing from the middle of the city passing by village Roras en route to the Airport, although this is only one of the road connections. In these lands also traversed the army of Alexander the Great (2333 years ago). Sialkot was made a headquarter of the Greek forces. A Greek Governor used to command from the fort.
It is acclaimed that the mother of Allama Iqbal was born in Sambrial, closest town to the airport. Many people here have a Greek descent, with blue eyes, white colour and broad features. The land is lush green and abundant with the richness of its natural beauty.
Several streams and rivulets emanating from Kashmir mountains meandering in and out through the green fields enter Pakistan in this area. Two canals, 'Upper Chenab' and 'Marala Ravi Link' originating from river Chenab scatter scenic beauty and fertility to the fields.
The land becomes a rare oasis in the desert of negligence, militancy, extremism, corruption, despondency and national regression. The biggest airport of the country is present here to be sufficient for many districts of central Punjab.
When in the Mohammad Shafi Hall of SCCI in the year 2003 a discussion was held in a meeting of directors to select a name for the airport, the first choice or vote was to call it Allama Iqbal Airport but due to the fact that newly built Airport at Lahore was already given this name, the participants unanimously voted in favour of a second choice to call it Sialkot International Airport, since Sialkot is also more globally known because of its exports.
The company to carry out work of Airport was registered in the name 'SIAL' which would organise all affairs. This became a Public Private Limited Company. In all this process, in my humble view, a reality and truth of history surfaced.
As is said that history repeats itself, the Directors unknowingly or inadvertently repeated the history and expressed their reverence to the founder of the city SAL or SIAL, the honour by calling their Airport and company as SIAL and thus were unconsciously fulfilling the requirement of history and in this way, I am sure we were able to pay a homage to our ancestors.
To the north of the airport (about 8km) there flows the mighty river of Chenab. New shareholders are invited to become stakeholders. Here is the mighty Chenab flowing with its glowing waters, you can make use of it. Chan Aab, the water coming from the moon. It comes from great heights of Nanga Parbat, the source has not been located.
The water sparkles and glitters like silver in the moonlight. So, it is called Chan Aab, ice cold with a high class fish 'Mahsher' (the lion of the water) profusely found in it, alongwith Singara (Seeng) and many other delicious species are swinging. The fish 'Mahsher' goes upstream only and rises upward in the waterfalls. The surrounding is a green valley, home to the best rice of the world, 'basmati' which one can smell from yards away when being cooked in a house.
At Shehbazpur, a new bridge (besides Head Marala) is being built which would link Gujrat with the airport and the distance of the city Gujrat will be halved than at present. Similarly reduced distances will be created by this bridge to cities like Lalamusa, Kharian, Jhelum, Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) and Pindi Bhatian etc.
On the western side of the Airport are towns/cities like Wazirabad, Daska, Gujranwala and of course, Pasrur, Shakargar, Narowal and many others in the south. The area is rightly called a Golden Triangle consisting of three districts namely, Sialkot, Gujrat and Gujranwala in terms of commercial viability of this mega project.
There are millions of expatriates belonging to this Golden Triangle who are spread all over the world and who frequently come to their homes and go back, will certainly be using Sialkot airport. Being a rich industrial area, heavy industries are established in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Daska and Sialkot. The industries are eager to provide much needed cargo business to the airport.
Intelligent selection of the venue of this airport has been a great landmark. The distance of the airport to Sialkot, Gujrat, Wazirabad, Daska are nearly equal (between 16 to 20 km) and who knows in the next 50 years or even earlier, the people of Jammu could also benefit from the airport, as Jammu has no international airport.
Pakistan consists of Small and Medium Enterprises, (SMEs) which form the backbone of its economy. About 60% of Pakistan's SME's are located in the region of Export Triangle of Pakistan comprising Sialkot, Gujrat and Gujranwala. Logistic problems involving long journey to either Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad for carrying the export goods, possible damage being done to them during transportation, delays often caused and hazards of pilferage and accidents abound and create great hindrance in the smooth execution of export orders.
Besides, due to long and inconvenient journey, the foreign businessmen have been hesitant to come over to Sialkot, now they feel attracted. They would be facilitated to come directly to Sialkot to transact new deals with business partners which will consequently increase exports manifold.
In the span of 5-6 years of its inception, SIAL has grown and matured into a dynamic organisation. The site is worth visiting, the runway is worth taking off and landing, the terminal building is under construction with a state of the art process, pride of the Pakistan people, a humble stride from a scratch, a dream come true.
International Human Rights Observer (IHRO) has been closely watching the ongoing process of development of the airport, exemplary commitment of the business community of Sialkot who have struggled to achieve their objective for more than two decades. IHRO has also proposed to launch a book titled "Founders of SIAL from Dream to reality". Business Community of Sialkot has played a dominant role in undertaking the mega project and now having fulfilled their dream, they are apt to reap the harvest.
(The writer is Chairman Pakistan Sports Goods Association Sialkot and Director Sialkot International Airport.)