President to lay foundation stone of Thar airport on October 20

According to a letter from President's Secretariat, President Asif Ali Zardari will lay the foundation stone of Thar airport at Islamakot, near by Thar coal project on October 20, 2011. Sources in Sindh Coal and Energy Department told Business Recorder on Tuesday that the President would lay the foundation stone of Thar Airport at Islamkot on 20th October 2011.
Zardari had to do this in the last week of September 2011, but due to busiest schedule, he could not perform this function, they said. The letter said that the competent authority was pleased to re-fix the groundbreaking ceremony of Thar airport on 20th October 2011.
The officials of President's Secretariat have issued directives to concerned officials of Sindh government to submit the list of participants of the ceremony, brief about the airport and Thar coal project for the President Zardari and talking points 12 to 15 bullets, sources said. President Zardari would come to Karachi on 19th October and would chair a few meetings on various issues at Bilawal House, sources said.
They said that construction work on the airport has been continuing for last many months. The cost of Thar airport at Islamkot would be Rs 976 million and this airport is being constructed to facilitate visitors to Thar coal project. With functioning of this airport, the work on Thar coal project would be accelerated, sources said.
The functioning of this airport will give great confidence to the investors as the governments of province and Centre have shown their resolve and commitment towards Thar coal development as a flagship project, sources added.