Delay, cost rise in new Islamabad Airport: PAC body seeks implementation report of inquiries

ISLAMABAD: The Subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday sought the implementation report of the inquiries and audit Paras on the construction of new Islamabad Airport within two weeks of time.

The PAC Subcommittee was held with the chair of its convener Syed Fakhar Imam in which the audit paras related to Aviation Division for the year 2012-13 were examined with a special reference to delay and raise in the cost of construction of the new Islamabad Airport.

The Audit officials told the subcommittee of PAC that the inquiries were conducted by the FIA and also by the Special committee headed by Wapda ex-Chairman Shamsul Mulk, but, so far, the recommendations of both the inquiries were not implemented yet.

The PAC Subcommittee sought the implementation report on the inquiries and audit paras on the construction of the new Islamabad Airport from Aviation Division within two weeks’ time. Convener of the Subcommittee Syed Fakhar Imam questioned that there were reports that new Islamabad Airport did not meet the criteria of international standards and even did not have the sufficient toilets.

The Aviation Division secretary said he admitted that it was not met the criteria of International Standards and have basic flaws in its design. The officials of the Aviation Division told the committee that FIA has held seven officials responsible for this.

The officials of the Aviation Division further told the committee that when the ground breaking of the new Islamabad airport was held then neither any financial feasibility report was prepared nor PC-1 was approved.