Authorities at the Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport suspended the international flights operation after a massive fire damaged the immigration system early Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the international flights operation will remain suspended until 10:00 pm. Earlier the CAA said the flights operation will resume after five hours at 3:30 pm. All the 30 incoming and outgoing international flights until 3:30pm have been cancelled.

But after assessing the damage caused by massive fire, the CAA delayed the resumption of international flights until 10:00 pm as the server and record rooms have been reduced to ashes.

A Qatar Airways flight which touched down at Lahore Airport from Doha had to return empty as immigration process of the passengers could not be completed on time, sources at the airport said.

An FIA technical team has started work to restore the immigration system at the airport which will automatically follow revival of the flights operation.

The CAA, however, clarified that Lahore Airport will keep operating domestic and cargo flights.

Earlier, first Haj flight from Lahore Airport took off for Madinah Munawarah. Though the flight was delayed for two hours and 10 minutes as it scheduled to leave Lahore at 8:35 am.

Initial probe reveals airport manager’s failure to deal with situation

The initial inquiry report on the incident of fire at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport today, submitted to Minister for Aviation Khawaja Asif by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has revealed that the Airport Manager Nazir Ahmad failed to take steps on time to extinguish the blaze as early as possible, report 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

Sources have told 24News that both the aviation minister and the secretary aviation are not happy at all with the performance of the manager which allowed the flames to spread further.   

On the other hand, CAA Additional DG Air Vice Marshal Taimoor Iqbal and Deputy DG Airports Sadiqur Rehman have been directed to reach the airport immediately, they have disclosed.   

After receiving the order, both the officials immediately left Islamabad for Lahore by road.

Reporter Saeed Ahmad Saeed