The first private international airport in Asia being built in Sialkot, Pakistan's largest industrial city, will be fully operational next April, said officials.
The airport is in the process of establishing a strategic link with Sharjah International Airport to make it its hub for export of goods around the world.
"We are here to meet the officials of Sharjah Airport to finalise the arrangements," said Mian Mohammad Riaz, chairman of Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) the company that is constructing the airport and will also manage it.
Apart from Pakistan International Airlines and other private airlines in the country, he said they were also negotiating with Air Arabia to launch cargo and passenger flights between Sharjah and Sialkot.
"Since we don't have foreign airlines coming to Sialkot in the near future, we will send our cargo and even passengers on international routes using Sharjah Airport, which is strategically located and linked for smooth cargo operations worldwide," he said, adding that the cargo operation would start this December.
A SIAL delegation met potential Pakistani investors in the UAE at meetings organised by Tanveer Khawaja, chairman of the Pakistan Business Council, and Atiq Cheema, vice-president of Dubai Used Cars Association. A number of Pakistani businessmen have invested in the airport.
The total cost of the project is about Dh154 million. Anyone who invests Rs5 million (nearly Dh317,000) can become a director of SIAL.
"We have 212 directors so far and are looking for more," said Khawar A. Khawaja, chief executive of SIAL.
People can also invest amounts ranging from Rs500,000 (Dh32,000) to Rs1 million (Dh64,000).
"It was a big challenge for us to construct a private airport as the government did not want to construct it at all and we also did not take any bank loans. It is a gigantic effort by industrialists and businessmen in Sialkot who also contributed earlier to the laying of the new road network in the city from their own resources," said Khawaja.
"Once completed, the airport will bring an end to long delays, damage to goods or packing due to multiple handling, pilferage, security concerns and other losses.
"It will also facilitate both local and foreign businessmen and other air travellers who will be saved from long road journeys to reach Sialkot from other distant airports in the country," he noted.
The airport will have a 3.6-kilometre runway, the longest in Pakistan, and an apron covering 45,000 square metres.
"We are following the Dubai model for improving trade and business in our city as a five-star hotel and an exhibition hall will also be built near the airport to facilitate international bus-inessmen and tourists."
Gulf News
