This refers to the news story ‘PM briefed on Walton flying club’ (Feb 26). The prime minister has been given a briefing on possible shifting of Walton airport and its planned future use as a business hub of sorts.

While such presentations by our officials often lack not only rigour but even factual data, I was impressed that someone had highlighted airport’s location in a built-up area as a major reason to close and relocate it.

This is certainly a cogent reason to ensure aviation safety. However, anyone landing at Lahore’s international airport will be appalled by the number of kites and other scavenging birds that inhabit the airspace, the runway and the parking areas.

The population density around Lahore airport is hardly different from that around Walton, but the risks are much greater for obvious reasons. There have been over 20 bird hits last year at Lahore airport alone, although this probably was never noticed by the government.

Therefore, much more pressing than the case to move Walton airport is the need to relocate Lahore’s dangerous airport and ensure that the new location remains free of creeping, careless and ignorant populace. Lahore airport’s land will make a perfect public park for Lahore’s teeming millions.

Wasif M Khan
Lahore

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2021