Airport costs

Repetitive extensions in the completion of the new Islamabad airport started in 2007. This resulted in the escalation of costs to almost five times its initial estimation. In addition, basic design flaws with no penalties to contractor have reduced it to another white elephant. Billions have gone down the drain because of inadequate spacing between two parallel runways, making it unsuitable for simultaneous departures and arrivals.

Instead of the recommended spacing of 1,000 metres between two runways, the airport only has the spacing of 200 metres. The CAA that is assigned to perform such regulatory functions failed to point out this major flaw. Compare the cost of this airport with the expenditure of the new airport in Delhi equipped with three parallel runways having CAT 3B landing system. It was the obligation of the state-funded regulator to ensure that the contractor has employed qualified and experienced engineers well-versed in design and the construction of efficient commercial airports.

Malik Tariq Ali

Lahore