Over the past few years, the new International Islamabad Airport project has become notorious due its frequent and costly delays. The project has, on more than one occasion, highlighted the sheer incompetence of authorities that were involved in building this airport.
The New Islamabad Airport project has already cost billions of rupees more than its initial estimates and it is yet to be officially inaugurated. One thing that can be said with certainty is what the new Islamabad Airport will be called.
The Name
The Federal Cabinet has approved the final name for the new Islamabad Airport in a meeting held at PM Office. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi headed the cabinet meeting where the name “Islamabad International Airport” was approved for the new airport.
The airport will now be officially be called “Islamabad International Airport”.
The Cabinet also notified the declaration of Islamabad International Airport as an “Airport”.
Considering the years of missed deadlines and delays, it can’t be said with surety when the new airport will begin its operations. It is said that PM Abbasi will inaugurate the airport between 15 to 20th April 2018.
CAA has also released a NOTAM announcing the date of airport’s operations. According to this NOTAM issued by Civil Aviation Authority, Islamabad International Airport will be operational by April 16. If (and it’s a big if given the track record of the authorities) the construction or linkage roads don’t face any further delays, we could see the new airport up and running in about six weeks.