The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has unanimously recommended while passing a resolution that the name of new Islamabad Airport should be Quaid-e-Azam International Airport.

The parliamentary panel met under the Chairmanship of Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, MNA. During the meeting it was proposed that the name of the New Islamabad Airport should be as Quaid-e-Azam International Airport.

Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said while moving the resolution that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is Father of the Nation and he united the nation. “I suggest that the name of new Islamabad international airport should be given as Quaid-e-Azam International Airport for his memory,” he said.

He said for this purpose, he moved the resolution. All the members supported the proposal of Bashir Virk.

Afterward, the committee passed the resolution unanimously that the name of new Islamabad airport should be Quaid-e-Azam International Airport.

The New International Islamabad Airport will be completed at a 170 percent escalated cost of Rs. 100 billion against the initial PC-I estimate of Rs. 37 billion.

However, air traffic would increase manifold and the new airport is projected to serve over 15 million passengers every year in the first phase.

The officials revealed to this correspondent that many requests have been received from international airlines especially from Gulf airlines to increase their air traffic, but they could not be accommodated in the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) due to lack of facilities including landing/taking off space, runway, parking area for aeroplanes as well as passenger lounge.

BBIA currently has a 4.7 million annual turnover of passengers, but once the new Islamabad airport becomes operational, it will increase the turnover to 15 million per annum in the first phase.

The new Islamabad airport will share the burden of Bacha Khan International Airport (Peshawar) which is overcrowded due to congested space and limited facilities. The traffic will be diverted to the new airport since the two cities are linked via Motorway. It is estimated that the new airport will cater to rising passengers’ requirements for the next 35 years easily.

The official further said that the new airport will revamp the image of Pakistan in international market and this will help in capacity building while inviting new airlines on board which will also increase revenue.

Currently, the BBIA has 20 check-in counters and parking place for 400 vehicles. The new airport has 90 check-in counters and parking facility for 2,000 vehicles.

Another official of CAA revealed that 96 percent of the work related to building of new airport is complete and it will be operational on August 14, as committed by the Prime Minister to the nation.