Sialkot: Sights & Sounds of the Export Capital of Pakistan-Last part

Sialkot: Sights & Sounds of the Export Capital of Pakistan-Last part

The SIAL has 223 directors, who contributed Rs 5 million each for the airport. The 1,002-acre airport is13 kilometres west of Sialkot and is linked by a road to Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Gujrat, Narowal, the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and the Sialkot Dry
Port Trust. The 3.6 kilometres long runway, taxiway and apron of the International Airport would be accomplished at a cost of Rs 48.131 million in two-years.

The runway is being constructed for B-747, A-300, B-737 and F-27 aircrafts and would cater the needs and requirements of international flights. The airport will help increase exports and facilitate foreign businessmen interested in the sports and surgery
items that Sialkot is famous for. The mega project would be completed at a cost of Rs 1500 million in stipulated period of two years. It is estimated that when the airport opens in 2007 it will handle over 143,000 passengers a year.

Sialkot Dry Port Trust was established in the private sector in 1984 by 52 reputed exporters/businessmen of Sialkot and they have earned the perpetual, enviable and unique honour of being the pioneers for establishing the first ever Dry Port in Asia the
private sector. The main aim of this Dry Port was to provide the facility of Customs Clearance to the exporters and importers of this region at their door step.

After PIA test flight PK-613 that landed at the Sialkot International Airport on October 20,2007, the airport became operational on November 30, 2007, when the national flag carrier PIA’s first airbus landed here. PIA’ will operate twice weekly domestic
flights, while international flights would be begun during 2008 from Sialkot.

The Shahbazpur Bridge on the river Chenab will be a major boost to the airport by providing easy access to the entire region. The new bridge started in early 2005 is situated about 10km away from Sialkot International Airport and when completed in late 2007
will reduce the distance between the cities located on either side of the river. It will provide a new gateway for the people of Gujrat, Kharian, Lalamusa, Jhelum and Azad Kashmir. On completion, the distance from Sialkot to Gujrat will be reduced from 56km
to 38 km. The bridge will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs70m.

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Posted by Naveed A Bari on Apr 20 2012. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry