Airports to have fourtier security in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister Shujaat Azeem on Tuesday said an integrated four-tier security system is being installed at all the airports of the country as a part of the National Aviation Policy announced, earlier this year.
The adviser told journalists that first installation of the security system designed by the National Engineering and Science Commission (Nescom) at Lahore Airport has been completed with a cost of Rs400 million.
He mentioned that the new aviation policy, which was announced after a gap of 15 years, focuses on safety, security and quality standards and encourages investment. He said that as a latest achievement made by the Aviation Division within the last two years, the Instrument Landing System (ILS) CAT III B is being installed at runway of the Lahore International Airport making it possible for aircraft to make safe landing even during the heavy fog. The cost of the system is 25 million dollars but it was donated by Qatar and will be opened on 30th of this month.
He said this state-of-the-art ILS CAT-IIIB system is supplemented by Advanced Airfield Lighting System and Surface Movement Radar. Combination of these systems will facilitate precision approach and landing guidance to the aircraft during inclement weather conditions. Earlier, landing at Lahore was not possible below 350 meters visibility, but now with the help of ILS CAT-IIIB, landing would be possible even up to 50 meters.
Shujaat Azeem informed that the New Islamabad International Airport would be made operational by December next year, saying that so far 90 percent work on the project has been completed whereas progress was 56 percent by February, 2014. He said the number of aero buses has also been increased from nine to 15.
Another big achievement of the Aviation Division during the last two years is renovation of existing Islamabad Airport with a cost of over Rs470 million. “The existing Islamabad Airport would remain operational for operation between northern areas, some domestic flights besides remaining available for air movement of armed forces.
He said the renovation of the Islamabad Airport includes fast track facility for passengers, new washrooms, new business lounge, new car park and taxi track delta.
The adviser said the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) earned a profit of Rs2.83 billion in first quarter of the year 2015 and without the legacy loans, the national flag carriers would be at break even.
He said that due to revolutionary measures like increase in number of aircraft from 18 in 2013 to 37 at present, closure of non-profitable routes like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Bangkok and closure of PIA’s offline offices as in Chicago, Sydney and Istanbul, the PIA was set to make huge profits in future also.
Shujaat Azeem pointed out that as many as 306 fake degree holders were also removed from PIA.
He said that nine PIA training centres inaugurated in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Swat, Nawabshah, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad and Sukkur have also been inaugurated. As many as 1,200 senior technicians and aircraft maintenance engineers will pass out every year from these centres.