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RAWALPINDI: The chairperson of Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Division and Civil Aviation on Monday expressed concern over increase in the estimated cost of New Islamabad International Airport.
The chairperson, Senator Kalsoom Perveen said technical faults and delay in the construction work had increased the cost from Rs37 billion to Rs85 billion.
Senator Perveen was speaking at a joint meeting of the standing committees of Senate and National Assembly on Civil Aviation at the new airport site.
Besides the National Assembly Standing Committee Chairman Rana Mohammad Hayat Khan, the meeting was also attended by the two committees members.
Secretary Civil Aviation Mohammad Ali Gardezi, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) director and project director briefed the committee about the new airport project, a press release issued by the Senate Secretariat said.
MPs annoyed with the slow pace of work
“With the construction moving at snail’s pace, it seems the new airport will not be operational even by 2035,” Senator Kalsoom Perveen said.
She said she was sure that the airport would not be ready by 2016 – the deadline given to the prime minister during his recent visit to the site.
The CAA secretary briefed the committees that two runways, five aprons and 80 per cent of the terminal building had been completed while the remaining work would be completed by the end of 2016.
The committee members were informed that initially the distance of the new airport from Kashmir Highway was just four kilometres but due to technical faults it had increased to 19 kilometres even from Sector I-16.
“It has led to an increase in the cost of construction,” the chairperson said, adding that construction work on a project of international standard had been started without any proper planning.
Senator Perveen questioned whether any government functionary, who inflicted a loss to the national exchequer between 2004 to 2014 due to poor planning, been brought to justice?
The prime minister knew all misappropriations in the project, but he released the grant, she said.
Published in Dawn, October 14th , 2014
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Comments (57) Closed
Oct 14, 2014 09:26am
Shameful incompetence. All their projects are doubling in cost? Was the initial cost underreported or did it not include 'shares?'
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Oct 14, 2014 09:42am
37bln to 85bln wow! Corruption at its best. We don't need airports, motorways and bullet trains. We want health, education and equal opportunity for every Pakistani. PML-N plz pack your bags and leave we don't trust you any more. Period.
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Oct 14, 2014 09:43am
It is not the plan that is important, It is the Planning.
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Oct 14, 2014 09:48am
Oh comeon...y worry about funds. ..IMF will fund it...return toh waise bhi awaam ko karna hai...
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Oct 14, 2014 09:51am
Oh how much this nation deserves Zardari and Sharif.
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Oct 14, 2014 09:52am
Red tape is a menace...root cause is corruption and incompetence...Pakistan's governance for decades is plagued by red tape...directly resulting in loss of billions of dollars to the national exchequer...imagine how much money Pakistan would have made and/or saved only on this one account...
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Oct 14, 2014 10:05am
Its startling to find out that Islamabad new International Airport even with escalated price is closer to the cost tag of Islamabad / Rawalpindi Metro Bus. Sounds Metro is more sophisticated, this smells rat
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Oct 14, 2014 10:05am
Pakistan should have such multimillion project all over the country...what happen if there are 1 million IDPs are in FATA...
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Oct 14, 2014 10:11am
I thought Sharif asked them to get it completed by March 2015 and how did the cost go from 37 Billion to 85 billion, that is more than double! Unrealistic!
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Oct 14, 2014 10:15am
The word on the street is that the first 2 runways layed out are too close that the planes can't even pass at the same time and now they need a third one.
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Oct 14, 2014 10:45am
Huh! Nobody is accountable for spending of public money or keep check on the progress of such projects.
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Oct 14, 2014 10:49am
Hand over the project to a foreign non muslim construction co , it will be completed next summer. As long as corruption, dishonesty and friends and family of politicians are involved then don't even expect the completion of the Airport by 2020.
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Oct 14, 2014 10:53am
Costs reaches more than double, very surprising showing incompetency and lutharjic attitude of govt/its personnels. The new airport is not a basic need of the citizens of Pakistan it should be stopped instead a hospital and or education institute is built at this place for general public
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Oct 14, 2014 11:04am
All this money being wasted. Where is the promise of increasing Education budget in the country? So much lies and deceit.
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Oct 14, 2014 11:35am
I wonder which Parliamentarian or Minister is making money on this project??? Food for thought!
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Oct 14, 2014 11:46am
Lots of PPP and PML have made fortunes from the project- no wonder the status quo parties are desperate to preserve this so "democracy".
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Oct 14, 2014 12:16pm
Every time when I read a news on this project, it makes me even more sad. Now i am surprised to read that the dead line of its completion is the end of 2016. So strange. Few months ago when PM visited this project the deadline was fixed March 2015. I am surprised that how come now it is extended so strangely. Perhaps it happened in the same way as the the distance of this airport from Kashmir Highway has increased from 4 km to 19km. For past many years I am waiting this airpor to complet but it is so disappoiting to see this project that I can only pray to Allah - nothing else.
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Oct 14, 2014 12:46pm
The new airport will not be operational even by 2035,” Senator Kalsoom Perveen - Can never be accepted. Hardly it takes not more than 05 years to complete the airport project. Where is the problem and by who ?
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Oct 14, 2014 01:04pm
What is the need for development such an expensive airport? For whom it is developed? what is the utility for common man? Why not spent money on poor people who are dying from lack of health facilities and terrorism?
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Oct 14, 2014 01:13pm
All thr construction companies are leeching money.
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Oct 14, 2014 01:14pm
I hope one day my kids will be able to travel from this airport.
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Oct 14, 2014 01:26pm
@Shahrukh Fatah : question is not "which" but "how many" and "how much each of them".
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Oct 14, 2014 01:44pm
The aerial distance from Kashmir Highway to airport is about 11 Kilometers, wonder how they thought it was 4. Wonder who are they fooling,
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Oct 14, 2014 02:04pm
48 Billion in way too much.International airport in India at Bangalore(10 billion INR) and Hyderabad(1 billion INR).This one in Pakistan must cost less than 1 billion in Pakistani rupee.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:06pm
This is the cost of 48 new stylish airports.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:09pm
Imran Khan Rightly says that "Mokmukaa" between PPP & PML(N) must end. The Main Culprit behind Wastage of poor nation money and delay in New Airport is PPP regime's corrupt hand can not be ruled out. Now PML(N) is saving them. Also, the other beneficiary Malik Riaz. Because New Airport will shift property business to adjacent area.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:20pm
And in this country 50% of the population lives below the poverty line. Thousands of children die because of unhygienic water.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:25pm
There is a malafide intention of present Govt. I was there recently and it should be handed over in eight months. Imran Khan should takeover this project from shameful Nawaz League
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Oct 14, 2014 02:39pm
@Sana
Most of the work done by Indian MNCs, Thats why Cost in India is Less, And Delhi IGI T3 is impressive, specially those Giant Golden Indicating Hands
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Oct 14, 2014 02:49pm
Do we even need a new airport in Islamabad ? is the current one getting too many flights ? or is it only being built to welcome foreign delegations ?
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Oct 14, 2014 02:51pm
85 billions is too much. The stunning new terminal of the Kolkata airport has been built at a cost of INR 23 billion recently. The state-of-the-art integrated terminal is a marvel. Check photographs in google.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:58pm
The more you delay- the cost keeps multiplying. I wonder if they have factored the cost of loans and depreciation of currency. One has to see the beautiful airports built all over China and the super connectivity with levitation and super speed trains. Indian airports are good now but nothing compared to Chinese, Malaysian and Indonesian airports. Not counting Singapore and Hong Kong! Pakistan could make best use of expertise available in Asia. Coincidently- all new Indian airports have been designed and built by Private construction companies during last 10 years and some of the major ones are being superbly managed by them ,too! Surely- if intentions are good- good results in Pakistan too can be achieved!
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Oct 14, 2014 03:02pm
"The prime minister knew all misappropriations in the project, but he released the grant, she said."
Mr. Prime Minister is part of the problem - not solution.
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Oct 14, 2014 03:19pm
why not you plan your corruption in project budget from the start of the Project. Planning mismanagement
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Oct 14, 2014 03:28pm
Shouldn't the govt be removed just because of this?
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Oct 14, 2014 03:44pm
@A Pakistani The masses trust PMLn. But you are free to pack up and leave:) Move to KPK. Oh wait there is nothing there becuase PTI hasnt done anything to improve it period.
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Oct 14, 2014 04:21pm
Cost increased from Rs. 37 bn to 85 bn due to mismanagement as cost and need of many essential parts of the project were not taken into consideration at the time of setting Project Cost and preparation of PC-1. Mismanagement of this project also resulted in delay of the project which further increased the cost of project.
As for as it's need is concerned, I think we should leave this discussion for respective technical persons / Departments / Organisation.
As for as it's funding in concerned, let me inform you all that this project is being constructed with the available internal funds of CAA which they generate independently from Aviation facilities they provide. This Airport is like an investment for CAA and they will earn profit from it in just a few years if everything goes with proper planning. The funding is not concerned with our taxes.
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Oct 14, 2014 04:31pm
First PPP and now N-League is skinning the Country,imagine over 110% increase in actual estimate, delays are intentionally caused to hike price in books and swindle National wealth. How come NS approved the grant despite knowing irregularities because earlier they were committed by PPP and now he wanted share too! Shae on our Governments of status-quo.
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Oct 14, 2014 04:33pm
What construction management company they are using? Who did the Budgetary design for the airport? This doesn't look right from any angle I see.. It would have been better to hire international companies like Jacobs, Fluor, and or Wood Group Munstang. This bad news perfectly reflect how badly tax payers money is wasted each year..
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Oct 14, 2014 04:40pm
@A Pakistani Hah this project was started by Musharaf not PMLN@
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Oct 14, 2014 04:44pm
wao only increased by 200% ...
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Oct 14, 2014 04:47pm
Ten percent culture at its best
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Oct 14, 2014 04:53pm
Live long bureaucracy. You are the best in the world. We are proud of you.
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Oct 14, 2014 04:56pm
Incidentally, the construction company that is building the airport for CAA is owned by a billionaire of Lahore whose grandson is going to be married with the grandson of PM Nawaz Sharif. The billionaire is also close to the royal family of a Middle Eastern country.
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Oct 14, 2014 05:34pm
The picture of the airport looks awesome.
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Oct 14, 2014 05:36pm
That's ok.............These looter has to find a way to distribute PAKISTANI tax money in their pockets. More than doubling the initial cost of project will provide enough to keep happy for some time.
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Oct 14, 2014 05:47pm
If value of Pakistani rupee continues to fall then even quadrillion will not be enough to build a toilet.
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Oct 14, 2014 05:48pm
Request to Dawn , please quote the estimate from now on in dollars as pakistani rupee has no value and even quadrillion will be less in a few years.
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Oct 14, 2014 06:20pm
Its not budget over run. Its simply more people in the game who wants more money for their pockets.
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Oct 14, 2014 06:48pm
I think there are more important things in the country to spend this money on. If we postpone this project and delay the announcement that Nawaz Sharif built such a grand airport in order to spent hat money or other URGENT priorities, heavens woule not fall.
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Oct 14, 2014 06:58pm
That is what happens when you assign tenders based on favoritism and kickbacks and not competence.
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Oct 14, 2014 07:59pm
Contractor's son is getting married to Kulsom Nawaz's daughter. explains everytrhing.
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Oct 14, 2014 08:18pm
how can distance increase from 4 to 19 kilometers because of technical faults?
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Oct 14, 2014 10:27pm
Take care of Polio and other health problems first.
Take care of rising terrorism.
Take care of women safety and education.
Take care of persons not having home to sleep.
Take care of food for the poor and downtrodden.
At the end when everything is streamlined you can go for this kind of corruption.
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Oct 15, 2014 12:21am
What a shame?
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Oct 16, 2014 01:09am
The increase in the cost and the surfaced mismanagement is a sad news for sure but for those making a comparison of this airport with Kolkata airport must keep in mind two things.
Firstly a mere cost comparison of the two airports without keeping other factors in view is absurd. Islamabad airport is 3200 acres while kokata's is 2460 acres. Secondly the currency power of INR is far superior to PKR. Passing judgments is not a good habit without proper research. FIA investigation into the delay and mismanagement was ordered during PM's visit to the site when he was not received with a satisfactory answer on the root causes of delay. This airport will have the capability of handling aircrafts as big as A380 which no other airport in Pakistan does.
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Oct 16, 2014 05:40am
So the price has MORE than doubled? I don't buy this.
Somebody is getting their pockets full.
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