Passengers on Monday faced inconvenience at New Islamabad Airport after conveyor belts – used to transport luggage to and from the aircraft – broke down. Sources tell that two luggage conveyor belts at the airport’s international departure lounge malfunctioned, prompting authorities to manually retrieve and load the baggage. A technical team was called by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to resolve the issue. When approached for response, a CAA spokesperson said maintenance work was in progress and the belts will be made functional soon. The malfunction has not affected flight schedules, he claimed. The newly-constructed airport has seen its share of controversies since its inauguration. In September 2017, the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation also expressed concerns at poor or zero facilities with the aviation division. Published in Daily Times, January 15th 2019.