Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi visited Dera Ismail Khan Airport recently. He said efforts were being accelerated to restore commercial operations at the facility, which would soon be operational for ATR flights after completion of remaining development work.
Kundi thanked Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for support regarding revival of Dera Airport and said runway carpeting had already been completed. Additional work was in progress to restore regular flight operations, he added.
Dera Airport has remained closed since 2015. Kundi emphasized the need to overcome shortages of technical equipment and staff at the earliest. He also highlighted that audit and safety assessments were necessary before resuming commercial services.
The governor expressed hope that Defence Minister would soon announce complete restoration of commercial flight operations. Meetings with South Air officials would also discuss launching flights for Dera Ismail Khan and Chitral, he added.
Kundi said private airlines would be encouraged to expand operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to improve regional connectivity. He further stated that the proposed Green Field International Airport would be constructed on more than 1,700 acres of land with an annual passenger handling capacity of over one million.
Rejecting suggestions to relocate the airport to Pezu, Lakki Marwat or Bannu, Kundi said area near Yarik was most suitable for serving wider region. He also announced that work on dual carriageway project for N-55 Dera-Parowa Road would begin soon, adding tendering process had already been completed.
On constitutional matters, the governor said no formal draft of proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment had surfaced and reiterated Pakistan People’s Party carefully reviews all constitutional matters before presenting recommendations as it had given suggestions on 27th amendment.