Altaf Hamid Rao,
MIRPUR (AJK) : World’s only state-of-the-art private-sector Sialkot International Airport reaches at sky-high by securing continued laurels, one-after-the-other, emerging as the World Class airport through providing most comfortable and travelling facilities through six of the reputed international carriers including the national carrier PIA.
This was disclosed by Mian Naeem Javed, Convenor Business Development Committee of the Sialkot International Airport Ltd (SIAL) while addressing a mammoth gathering of the city elite including overseas Kashmiris, travelling business partners, officials of local business fraternity including members Mirpur AJK Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Journalists and others here on Wednesday.
The ceremony was also addressed of EX Chairman SIAL Ch. Ashfaq Ahmed, Director Mian Attique ur Rehman, Manager Business Management Aamer Yaqoob, local air-travelling business icon Ch. Sagheer Ahmed and others. Representatives of Mirpur AJK Chamber of Commerce & Industry including Sr. Vice President Wajid Rasool Mir, ex Vice President Nawaz Ratayal and senior journalist and analyst Altaf Hamid Rao tabled various proposals to ensure the close business ties between Mirpur and Sialkot besides the delivery of required facilities to the travelling people from Sialkot Airport to their national and international destinations with the collaboration of all other air travelling agencies including the national carrier Pakistan International.
SIAL, the management body of Sialkot International Airport had hosted the grand colorful ceremony to promote the introduction of Sialkot International Airport with prime focus to attract and persuade the UK, UAE and other foreign countries-based millions of Kashmiri expatriates hailing from all three districts of Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber of Mirpur division to travel through the Sialkot International Airport which has been elevated through furnishing of the world-class facilities for the air-travelling population belonging to this part of AJK besides other adjoining districts of Gujranawala, Gujrat, Khariyaan and Narowal districts of Punjab province.
“Over 30 million people hailing from the above areas including Mirpur division are annually travelling through Sialkot International Airport for the international and domestic destinations by six of the world-class international airlines and the national carrier and this figure is rapidly raising from the fully furnished airport”, Mian Naeem Javed revealed while unveiling the objectives of holding of the grand introductory show ‘SIALKOT ROAD SHOW @ MIRPUR AJK’.
He continued that Sialkot International airport is meant for the entire region including this fast emerging part of Mirpur divisional of AJK which has tremendous contribution in the national exchequer in form of the foreign exchange of billions of rupees annually.
Javed revealed, while referring to the business development activities through the Sialkot International airport, that SIAL doing the business of over US Dollars 8 billion annually besides providing quality air-travelling facilities to the population of the region. He said the network of the direct flights for various international and national destinations was being increased from SIAL airport under an integrated development program. These including two direct flights from Sialkot to London and Birmingham, besides for Barcelona and Paris from next month. Besides, direct daily flights are also being operated soon for Saudi Arabia by the Saudi airlines as well as for Far East, Europe and Middle East countries, he added.
Similarly initial work is in progress for the operation of British Airways flights directly from Sialkot to London and other British cities since the BA has announced to resume its service between UK and Pakistan after a pause of about a decade, Mian Naeem Javed said. He disclosed that Sialkot Airport would soon have a 5-star hotel of global chain for the passengers besides an Exhibition Center of Sialkot-made products as well as the Flight-kitchen facility of international standard for supply of food for passengers in the national and international flights.
It may be added that established in 2007 in the private sector, Sialkot International Airport was the brain child of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry – aimed at to contribute at national level under self-help spirit for the promotion of business activities both for home and abroad from Sialkot – second largest exporting city of Pakistan next to Karachi.
At least 60 flights are weekly operating for different domestic and international destinations from Sialkot international airport having the second longest 3.6 KM long runway next to Islamabad International Airport for the operation of the biggest airliners including eight number of white body aircraft.