Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Airports of a country generally portray its reflection to the world and a lot is done across the globe to equip them with state-of-the-art facilities in order to facilitate both local and foreign passengers.

The formation of new National Aviation Policy 2015 after 15 years goes to the credit of the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. The present government has also done a lot to streamline the airports of the country.

Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIAP) in the federal capital speaks well of the endeavors of the government in this regard as the overall management and facilities at the airport have improved considerably during the past three years.

Introduction of free of cost “CAA Help” facility for senior citizens, special and unwell passengers, newly developed concourse area for international passengers, increase in briefing and immigration counters, introduction of delta taxiway at the runway and fast track system are some of the steps taken by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to enhance efficiency of the airport.

CAA Public Relations Joint Director Fariha Tahir Shah said, “In an endeavor to facilitate passengers at airports in line with National Aviation Policy, the CAA help facility is introduced at major airports including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. In the second phase, this facility would be started at other airports as well”.

She informed that for further comfort of passengers and public, a number of other measures had also been adopted including maintenance of cleanliness, addition in public washrooms, establishment of a waiting area for general public, provision of clean drinking water, installation of additional security cameras, installation of new luggage scanning machines and introduction of CAA facilitators adding that CAA has also made significant infrastructure changes at BBIAP in order to bring it at par with international standards.

The joint director said, “Earlier, BBIAP had only two taxiways in the middle of runway which resulted in backtracking of every landing aircraft taking about five to ten minutes to vacate active runway. With the creation of Taxiway “D” which provides link between main runway and apron, aircrafts clear the runway instantly saving around Rs 1 billion per anum of airlines”.

She said that the fast track system is a new idea to cater the quick movement of passengers while a sitting area had also been created for the people who come to receive passengers besides enhancing the car parking capacity to a maximum of
700 cars.

New National Aviation Policy 2015 unveiled on March 19 is considered to be a landmark achievement of the government. The policy is formulated after consultation with different stakeholders from local and international aviation industry.

The key objective set forth for aviation industry was to develop a safe, secure and efficient air transportation structure. The policy is designed to create better business opportunities and enhance economic activity through effective utilisation of resources.

“The arrangements have been improved considerably during the last three years which is a good omen as it portrays positive picture of the country before the world,” said Shahid Karim who is a Pakistani national working in United Kingdom (UK) as he arrived at BBIAP to spend his holidays.

PCAA has also developed a flight inquiry application for both android and Iphone, which allows its users to track flights in real time and check for flight timings and possible delays.

Fariha Shah concluded by saying that the CAA DG Air Marshal (r) Asim Suleman has taken keen interest in enhancing facilities at the airports while a number of other measures are in pipeline to provide further comfort to the passengers.

A stall owner Muhammad Aslam at the airport said, “Things are more managed now as compared to those few years ago adding that the staff is more vigilant now and things
are organised.

The passengers and their greeters seem to be satisfied with the improved facilities at BBIAP but there is a need on the part of aviation authority to remain consistent in this regard and bring more improvement in the functioning of the airport if it really wants to meet the international standards.