About start of commercial flights from the Airport, the official said that the airport would be ready for this purpose in next two years.
He said delay in completion of the new airport has already caused loss to the national exchequer as its construction cost is increasing with every passing day.
According to the sources, the project was announced in January 2005 with an estimated cost of US $300 million and construction began in April 2007, when funding became available. Located in Fateh Jang Tehsil of Attock District some 30km south-west of the Federal Capital, the new airport is likely to be completed by 2011-12 at a revised cost of Rs 37 billion. However, the construction work could not be completed before the end of the deadline and it is now expected to be completed and operational by 2014 which may require additional funds.
The new airport will replace the existing one, Benazir Bhutto International Airport located in Chaklala. At present, the Benazir Bhutto International Airport is handling 18 airlines, adding, most of the international commercial flights are operated at morning time which cause rush and delays. The new airport spread over 3,600-acre would not only serve the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi but also the adjoining provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.