Infrastructure and Transport News

[Neo]

Etihad Airways exploring new destinations in Pakistan ​

KARACHI (December 20 2007): The Etihad Airways is exploring new destinations in Pakistan to expand its domestic operations besides it also intends to increase its international flights. The Area Manager for Etihad Airways in Pakistan, Joost P Den Hartog stated this while addressing the prize distribution ceremony of 'Travel Trade Partner's Recognition Awards-2007' here on Tuesday night.

Terming the people of Pakistan the Trade Partners of Etihad, he said that the number of passengers of Etihad doubled in 2007 showing customer's satisfaction over its services. "Pakistani market is volatile as sudden ups and downs come in it. We should increase the off-peak traffic of the airline in order to establish our business on strong grounds," he maintained.

Hartog apprised that the Etihad started its operations in Pakistan a couple of years ago with only four international flights in a week, which has now increased to 28 flights per week. The Area Sales Manager, Etihad Airlines, Ken Marshal said that the Etihad Pakistan achieved the 'Best Out Station Award' in the Etihad International Convention besides getting recognition award from World Trade Organisation (WTO) for its quality services.

Later, at the ceremony shields were awarded to top-10 Travel Agents in recognition of their services to expand the Etihad's business in Pakistan. The Travel Agents which received the shields include Al-Karam Travels, American Express Travel Services, Aroma Travel Services, Bukhari Tours and Travel Services, Fazl-e-Rabbi Pvt Ltd, OSS Travel Services, Polani Pvt Ltd, Quality Aviation Pvt Ltd, Sana Travels and Tours and Universal Travel Masters.

Trophies for the 'Agency Generated Highest Revenue-2007' and 'Biggest Market Share Shift-2007' were awarded to Bukhari Tours and Travel Services and OSS Travel Services, respectively. While American Express Travel Services achieved the 'Premium Sales Trophy for the year 2007'.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Neo]

Massive damage caused to Railways installations ​

KARACHI (December 30 2007): Massive damages caused to railway installations and network runs into billions of rupees. According to railway sources the damages assessed so far include the burning of 25 railway stations, six trains, eight locomotives, 16 bridges, 18 level crossings while railway track was uprooted at six places.

A number of railway cranes, track machines and motor trolleys were also set ablaze. Railway sources told APP that measures are being taken to start repair work and restoration of rail traffic. It will take weeks to restore traffic, railway sources told APP.

According to these sources assistance of army is being sought for providing protection to the life of railway workers to enable them to carry out massive repair work.

It was pointed out that the extent of damage could be judged from the fact that a km long "Baran Bridge" between Mating and Bholari Railway stations was badly damaged.

"We are back to the position when trains used to be operated through manual communication system," a railway official said while referring to damage caused to railway's sensitive communication system. "We cannot operate a train when there is no communication link station to station," he pointed out. It is feared that if goods train service was not immediately restored it can cause shortage of wheat and oil. Railway officials said that if required, the railway would seek the help of FWO and Army in carrying out repair work.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[ahussains]

Too much losses we have sufferred in this week peoples who are destrying this dont know this that they have to pay this all the form of taxes they just incress the rate of taxex on them ..

 

[Neo]

Sialkot airport to facilitate businessmen ​

Saturday, January 05, 2008

LAHORE: The management of Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) has lauded the engineering services provided by the NESPAK in the completion and operation of the first private sector airport built by the local business community at a cost of over Rs2.5 billion.

Constructed on build, operate and own basis, the Sialkot International Airport can handle 747 Boeing aircraft which operate on long-haul international routes and can accommodate four wide-bodied aircraft at a time.

A spokesman for the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) said the airport would greatly encourage foreign businessmen to fly directly to Sialkot for purchasing world famous sports’ goods, surgical instruments and leather products.

The NESPAK is also involved in the construction of Karachi’s Jinnah Terminal project, a new passenger terminal at the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore and is working on infrastructure design for upgradation of airports in Saudi Arabia and Libya and providing project management services for airports in Oman.

Sialkot airport to facilitate businessmen

 

[Neo]

PQA to undertake $100 million capital dredging project: five firms pre-qualified ​

KARACHI (January 06 2008): The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) is planning to conduct capital dredging at the Port at a cost of $100 million, Business Recorder learnt on Saturday. "Five international companies--two each from Holland and Belgium and one from China--have been pre-qualified for carrying out 18-metre dredging at Port Qasi. This is a 100 million dollars project," sources in PQA said.

The pre-qualified firms, including China Harbour Engineering, Jan D. Nel, Dredging International, Van Ord etc, would dredge the "main or outside" navigation channel at Port Qasim to 18 metres depth, while draught in the inner channel would be increased to all-weather 14 metres, they said.

"This would enable us to accommodate vessels of 14 metres draught in all-weathers channel while this capacity may go from 15 to 17 metres in high tide period," they added. Another official, however, eyed 16-metre berthing capacity in normal days after completion of the project, which includes deepening and widening of the navigation channel.

A pre-bid meeting would be held on January 22, 2008 at the Port Qasim, to be followed by opening of the tenders on January 31, 2008. The said companies would have to submit their bids some time in mid-January. According to the official, work on the project should start some time in April 2008, to be completed by 2010-end.

Yet another official said the PQA had set 30-month time for completion of the project. The project would be awarded on 'Construct and Finance' basis. "It may be financed by the Port Qasim as it has enough money, but we want the companies to finance it as it would inculcate more responsibility in them", he said.

PQA has pre-qualified Scot Wilson/Zaheeruddin Consultant, Royal Haskoning UK Ltd/Techno Consultant, Engineering Consultant Int (Pvt) Ltd/Lous Berger Group, and Engineering Associates Lyon. Of these, Engineering Consultants International, Lous Berger Group USA appeared to be the lowest bidder with the bid of $106.611 million.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Neo]

Federal government to provide additional Rs 30 billion for roads in Balochistan: chief minister ​

QUETTA (January 06 2008): Caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan Sardar Mohammad Saleh Bhutani has said the federal government has promised to provide Rs 30 billion additional for uplift of road sector in Balochistan while a committee has also been constituted to evolve a feasible formula to settle issue regarding gas development surcharge and gas reality between the federal and the provincial governments.

The committee would comprise both the representatives of the federal government and the provincial governments. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he said these decisions have been taken in the meeting headed by the Prime Minister held in Islamabad.

Besides, increasing the road sector development budget the meeting also reviewed the pace of work on railway track in the province as feasibility of Quetta-Dera Ismail Khan via Zhob Railway track would be launched by February next.

Work on Lackpass tunnel some 30 km of the provincial capital on Quetta-Karachi highway would also be completed soon while the meeting also approved Khujjak Tunnel project and work on which would be launched soon.

The meeting also approved projects for supplying gas to Loralai, Zhob, Killa Siafullah and Noshki districts while work on the project to supply gas to Winder industrial state would be launched soon.

Besides, the meeting directed for expediting work on electricity supply projects to Northern and Western areas in the project. He said Dadu-Khuzdar transmission line would be completed soon which would ensure power supply to Awaran, Washuk, Kurkh and other parts in the province. Rs 100 million allocated for establishment of Kurkh grid station during the meeting and work on this project would be launched as early as possible.

Besides, the Saudi government has promised Rs 320 million for electricity supply project for Dalbandin while rest of the cost of the project would be borne by the federal government, he said, adding negotiations between Iranian and Pakistani governments is continued regarding supply of power supply to Gwadar, Awaran and Chaghi areas.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Neo]

Airblue growth beats PIA on domestic routes ​

KARACHI: The number of domestic passengers who preferred travelling in private airline Airblue has grown whereas the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is losing its popularity, data compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) revealed.

According to provisional aviation statistics for the year 2006-07, Airblue carried 1.4 million passengers in 2006-07, up around 7.7 per cent from previous year’s 1.3 million it carried between different cities of Pakistan. The PIA, faced with accumulated losses of more than Rs35 billion, lost domestic market share by 5.7 per cent as it carried five million passengers compared to 5.3 million during the period under review. “Airblue has capitalised on Aero Asia clientele,” said an industry official. “The market lost by Aero Asia in the last couple of years has been taken over by Airblue.”

After more than a decade of successful operations, Aero Asia was barred from flying by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in May last year owing to safety concerns. Aero Asia carried more than one million passengers in fiscal 2004-05 but the number shrank to 756,308 in the following year and dropped to 278,900 in 2006-07. In contrast, Airblue, which started with only 22,320 passengers in 2003-04, carried 1.4 million passengers in the last fiscal year.

“Besides, PIA has suffered from a very bad punctuality record in the last couple of years,” continued the official who requested not to be named. “This irregularity and financial woes of PIA have also worked to the advantage of Airblue.” The private carrier has also emerged as a leader in introducing innovation in the aviation industry of the country. It brought the self check-in facility at its Karachi’s hub of Jinnah International Airport whereby passengers with baggage obtain a boarding card through the touch screen menu without needing to report to the counter.

The concept of booking-first-to-get-the-lowest-fare has also contributed to advance of Airblue in gaining the market share. PIA is now following the suit and has adopted the same strategy. Airblue with its six A320 and A321 aircraft was also able to ride the tide of rising fuel cost, which bankrupted many airlines across the world.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the Chief Executive Officer and the brain behind the success of the private airline is confident that future fuel-related price shocks would be sustained. “We are in a phase of growth,” he told The News. “With aggressive revenue management and increasing the number of passengers we will make through this period.” However, he hinted that few cost elements would be passed on in fares and others would be absorbed through operation of the aircraft on profitable routes.

Around 305,370 passengers travelled by Shaheen Air International (SAI) in 2006-07 as compared to 55,670 in the previous year. On the international front, PIA carried 3.59 million passengers in 2006-07, Airblue 237,170 and SAI 198,067. Except for the flag carrier, the two domestic airlines have registered growth in previous year.

Airblue growth beats PIA on domestic routes

 

[Neo]

CAA chalks out $3.5bn airport cities plan ​

Thursday, January 10, 2008

KARACHI: Director General of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Farooq Rahmatullah has revealed that the CAA is looking to invest $3.5 billion to construct ‘airport cities’ offering facilities like eateries, shopping centres, entertainment ventures, international hotels and business centres, apartments etc.

Talking to The News after after inaugurating the third Makro-Habib wholesale store at Shahra Faisal near Star Gate on Wednesday, he said that the CAA has arranged to facilitate proper infrastructure such as electricity, water, gas and roads and the air port city project has international planners working on it which is yet at its initial planning stage.

The DG further informed that such a city would be initially built in Karachi and then similar projects would be replicated around Lahore and Islamabad airports to commercialise the vast number of lands surrounding them.

Rahmatullah also revealed to The News that an airport express train is being planned for which would take passengers directly from the airport to the city and cantt stations with an approximate travelling time of 7 to 8 minutes.

He said that the feasibility report for both the projects are being worked upon and it would take about 15 years for the venture to materialize in any form. He added that the Makro stores being introduced in Pakistan are ideally in line with their strategies and therefore he offers them complete support.

Regarding the political situation he said that the country’s history is full of wars and martial laws but the country has continued to grow and therefore he is optimistic about the future as “whatever the circumstances are people strive to improve and achieve success.”

Meanwhile inaugurating the third Makro- Habib wholesale store near Star Gate Farooq Rahmatullah said that with the increased focus worldwide by civil aviation bodies on revenue generation, activities based on commercial operations and effective use of real estate within and around airports are in practice.

He said that the trends in CAA Pakistan are also shifting towards exploring this aspect of revenue generation and this is the first step towards achieving the milestone.

CAA chalks out $3.5bn airport cities plan

 

[solid snake]

Karachi metro is built, this is the track line layout that will be used.

If

 

[Neo]

Railways to get Rs 6.5 billion for restoration work ​

ISLAMABAD (January 13 2008): Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed-mian Soomro has directed the Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry to process Pakistan Railways requirement of Rs 6.5 billion for complete restoration of the damaged service in shortest time span. He was chairing a meeting held here on Saturday to consider the losses caused to railways during recent riots particularly in Sindh.

In his presentation Chairman Pakistan Railways told 32 out 263 passenger trains and six out of 45 freight trains were not plying currently. Of these, 14 are on the main corridor while 18 are on branch lines, he added.

He said Pakistan Railways had already repaired 19 out of 35 damaged locomotives with its own resources while spare parts were being imported for repair of remaining 16 railway engines.

Federal Minister for Railways, Mansoor Tariq informed the meeting that the riots caused damages worth Rs 6.5 billion, which included damage to vitally important signalling and communication system, locomotives, coaches and station buildings. He said that Railways have closed down 20 stations in Karachi and Sukkur Divisions alone after being partially damaged or totally burnt.

Prime Minister Mohammed-mian Soomro asked the Railways Ministry to restore this public service institution fully back to normal operation and assured that the government would provide the necessary resources for the purpose. He lauded the efforts of Pakistan Railways in bringing the rails back on tracks within 53 hours after riots on 27th December.

He praised the dedication shown by the railway workers in restarting the service under difficult circumstances particularly the oil transportation trains. He also acknowledged the role played by Rangers and Pakistan Army in rendering valuable contribution towards restoration of rail service. The Prime Minister regretted the damage caused to the machinery and property of Pakistan Railways and it ultimately hurt the common man.

He said the people must show restraint while publicly manifesting their sentiments and refrain from causing damage to public property. He said many railway stations which have been burnt, had historic architectural value as well. Several of them had wooden roofs and arches, which were burnt to ashes.

He said the loss to railways is the loss of the entire Nation as it is the cheapest and safest mode of travel and transportation across the country. Soomro said that signalling system is the backbone of the entire railway system and while restoring it effort should be made to upgrade the technology, if possible.

He also said that strict quality control should be ensured while restoring the damaged coaches. Senior Railways officials told Business Recorder that presently Pakistan Railways is functioning at 70 to 75 per cent of its capacity as passengers traffic has slowed down.

They said the Railways had refunded Rs 100 million to the passengers due to cancellation of their bookings during the past two weeks. They said the running speed of the passengers trains had been reduced from 105 Kilometer to 80 kilometers per hours in Karachi and Sukkur divisions to ensure safety of the passengers.

They said the security forces were guarding/ patrolling to protect the railway lines in these two divisions whereas strength of the railway police has also been increased. They said that due to damage to signal and communication systems at 60 railways stations, the station maters are using wireless telephones for smooth running of the passenger and goods trains.

Officials said that Pakistan Railways which was the economic lifeline of the country, is giving priority to the transportation of oil, wheat and other essential goods to upcountry. They said that it would take at least six months to repair the damaged locomotives, coaches damaged tracks, railway stations, signal, and communication system in the country.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[mujahideen]

Karachi metro is built, this is the track line layout that will be used.

If

I think if the metro is built it would clear up the traffic mess in Karachi.

 

[Plasma]

There is no metro in Karachi and this plan seems highly unlikely. There is only one stop in Clifton and defense and that doesn't seem logical.

 

[Neo]

Two islands to emerge in Mangla Dam construction ​

MIRPUR (January 13 2008): With the completion of Rs 62 billion under-construction Mangla dam raising project, two islands will emerge in picturesque Mangla Dam reservoir here through the construction of two required dykes by Wapda, official sources said.

The dykes project will cost about Rs 386 million--to be borne by the AJK government with the liberal financial assistance of Pakistan government, they said. The dykes will be constructed to provide direct access to the population of the adjoining villages, Panayam and Kharak, in Mirpur subdivision to the rest of the city.

Sources said that all necessary steps were being taken by the government for early rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected families displaced due to the raising of the dam. The package of incentives announced by the government for the rehabilitation of the Mangla dam affectees would be implemented in true perspective and within the stipulated time frame, they added.

Mangla dam affectees were being provided financial compensation of their affected build-up and other property in line with the current market rates. Total 133 villages, including 110 of Mirpur district and only three of adjoining Kotli district would be affected following raising of the Mangla dam, sources said.

They indicated that Mangla dam affectees' rehabilitation and resettlement process was being monitored by authorities. They said that allotment of residential plots to the affectees in New Mirpur city and other under-construction small towns would soon be exercised under phased program by Mangla dam resettlement department soon after the receipt of green signal from Wapda after completion of raising projects.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Neo]

PIA's directors review operating plan ​

KARACHI (January 15 2008): PIA Board of Directors held its 310th meeting here on Monday to review PIA's operating plan for 2008. The Board of Directors made several suggestions to deal with the issues confronting the airline. The review is partially completed and the Board will again be briefed about other operating and strategic matters in its next meeting.

Meanwhile, the PIA Directors appreciated some of the operating achievements during 2007 like removal of EU restrictions on PIA aircraft, successful Haj operations, improved flight punctuality and in-flight services.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Neo]

Sialkot-Kuwait flight soon ​

SIALKOT (January 15 2008): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to finalise necessary arrangements for starting direct flight from Sialkot to Kuwait shortly. This was stated by Chief Executive Sialkot International Airport Khawar Anwar Khawaja.

Talking to Business Recorder here Monday that at present PIA was already successfully operating two flights weekly from Sialkot to Karachi while third flight would operational early next on the same route. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is taking the step keeping in view the highly encouraging response of passengers, he said.

Khawar Khawaja further said that foreign investors constantly are showing their keen interest to invest in different projects including the construction of a five star hotel near Sialkot International Airport.

The functioning of airport in this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry of the country would not only opening new vista of development, foreign investment and industrial development but it would help further accelerate the pace of trade commerce activities, he added.

The airport will not only cater the needs of golden industrial triangle of Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat but also generate thousands employment opportunities, he added. It may be mentioned that most modern Apron having the parking capacity for six wide-bodies aircraft or three airbus plus F-27 aircraft had been constructed at the airport. Besides 3600-metre long, 45-metre wide taxiway had been constructed.

The longest international runway of the country measuring 3.6-km had been constructed and it will cater the requirement of all aircraft used for international and domestic cargo and passenger traffic. The professionally designed International Airport has been developed over 1004 acres and fully equipped for handling B747-400, A300 and 737 aircraft.

The potential traffic forecast for Sialkot international airport is scaled down at the time of opening to 53,0339 passengers a year while estimated cargo tonnage at the time of opening is expected to be 28515 tons.

This means that by the end of year 2012 about 53,000 tones of cargo will be lifted from Sialkot International Airport. Due to the provision of passenger facilities at Sialkot International Airport, it was estimated that the general public would benefit to the tune of over Rs 2 billion in terms of time and money savings. Similarly, cargo handling at the airport would save more than Rs 1 billion for the businesses.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]