Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Thursday asked Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to increase the number of flights from Karachi to Quetta, as people are facing inconvenience.

The meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood, while senators including Shahi Syed, Hidayat Ullah, Kalsoom Parveen, Haji Saif Ullah khan Bangash, officials from Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (OGRA) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) attended the meeting.

The committee said that the present number of flights for Quetta was not sufficient, as compared to the number of passengers. More flights should be started on regular basis to facilitate maximum people, it said.

The PIA officials assured the committee to increase the flights for Quetta on priority basis.

The PIA officials informed the committee that eight new aircrafts would be included in PIA, while number of functional aircraft would reach to 38.

The cabinet joint secretary informed the committee that experience is most imperative for technical appointments in OGRA whereas high qualification is not necessary for their posts.

Senator Shahi Syed said that government should ensure the equal presentation of all provinces in OGRA.

Shahi Syed questioned about charging high rates of gas even in gas producing regions and the difference rates of GST in all provinces was also a question mark adding that the post of member oil is vacant from last two years.

Civil Aviation Authority Secretary Irfan Elahi informed the committee that the construction work of Ramma and Kasana Dams would be completed in stipulated period of time. Kasana Dam was being constructed on the area of 625 acres and Rs 1,500 million had been allocated in this regard, Elahi said.

New Islamabad Airport would meet the international standard and have capacity to facilitate over 45 million passenger per annum, he added.

The Senate Committee expressed its reservation about private housing society near to the New Islamabad Airport.

The body asked that all the stakeholder should present in the next meeting of the body to address the concern of the committee.

The Civil Aviation Authority official informed the committee that new Islamabad Airport would be completed with the cost of Rs 90 billion and likely to be inaugurated on August 14, 2017.

The committee appreciated the good efforts and arrangement of Airports Security Force (ASF) on all airports of the country with the latest technology and equipments.

The body also recommended ASF to review about the extra gate, which were built unnecessary points adding that slum areas around airports are big threats and facility for the terrorists.

The body has also given the suggestion to the ASF officials to depute senior person on airports for the security because sometime newly inducted personnel were not well trained with the high profile personalities.

The ASF director general said that shortage of security staff was being faced due to the requirement of around 250,00 security staff and we have only 10,000 security staff.