NA body declares airport in Mansehra viable

MANSEHRA: A special committee constituted by National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms has declared the airport project launched by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz pervious government a highly viable and need of the hour.

"We have ordered the deputy commissioner not to return back an amount of Rs337 million released by the federal government for acquisition of 6,000 kanals of land and pay it to the affected families whose land has been acquired for the project," Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Muhammad Sajjad told a meeting of the special committee at Circuit House here on Tuesday.

The special committee discussed in details about pros and cons of the airport at Tanawal in Mansehra and asked the district administration to undertake its responsibilities for the in-time completion of the important project.

The meeting was also attended, among others, by deputy director, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, officials of Planning and Development Department, officials of the district administration. The MNA said the National Assembly in its unanimously-adopted resolution in May last year had demanded the federal government to pay land price to owners.

"Our next meeting would be held on November 30 in Islamabad and represent is recommendations to national assembly seeking an immediate release of money to landowners and complete this project in time," said Sajjad. He said that the project was highly important as mega development project.