Whether one calls it haste or lack of planning, the Punjab government has set aside the design of Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport’s extension project, approved by the last PML-N government, and is all set to start work on the new design instead that is six times smaller than the previous one, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday. 

Sources told 24News that had the airport been expanded as per the design that had been approved by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2016, the airport’s would now have the capacity to accommodate 25 million passengers annually.

However, the airport’s capacity would remain confined to three million passengers only if it was expanded as per the design approved by the PTI government, they disclosed. 

The PC-I of the project had been okayed in 2017 while tenders were also floated.  

However, towards the end of 2017, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had to put work on the project on hold due to deteriorating political situation of the country.  

When PTI came to power in 2018, a new PC-I and a design were approved.

Reporter: Durre Nayab