NEW airports cost huge investment and, therefore, they are planned and commissioned after looking into extensive survey reports on various counts in which commercial viability and public interests are held foremost.

Sehwan airport for sure would have brought economic and political benefits for the people of the area had relevant parameters were examined.

Why a decision was made to build an airport at Sehwan is something only the Civil Aviation Authority can tell.

What citizens watch with despair is continuous neglect of Sehwan airport ever since it was built. This should have caused concern to the CAA and the public representatives from Sindh in the provincial and the National Assembly.

Now, this non-revenue-generation facility established in Sehwan, which is neither an industrial city nor a holiday resort, cannot be relocated. However, to make use of it some other options could be explored such as use for freighter traffic and for long parking of airplanes, as is being done at Sialkot airport.

The freighter can lift various commodities among which the crop of mangoes is on hand, as its season has started with June.

But to export it to foreign destinations, the interested party would first transit it at some larger airport for sending it to a final point.This exercise is cumbersome, as well as reduces the profit.

Had there been cargo facility in place at smaller airports all over the country, all stakeholders, such as the farm owner, exporter, vendor and freight carrier, would have made much of it.

Sehwan is a historical city and is also famous as Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander (1177-1274), a Sufi saint and poet, is buried there. Devotees from across the country, and India, keep visiting his shrine throughout the year.

Moreover, after development of the Gorakh Hill resort, which is in the pipeline, this can well be made a tourist point.

Shrines pull visitors if these are well kept and organised.

The national flag carrier and private operators may be motivated to start in the beginning weekly or fortnightly flights for Sehwan. A reliable schedule would inspire travellers to work out the trip.

There could be more proposals to revitalise Sehwan airport, for which the editor is requested to highlight this issue. Besides, the provincial assembly should debate on this subject in the current session and draw out improvement plans for wider interests of the people.

SIKANDAR ALI SHAHKandiaro