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Multan Chamber demands upgradation of airport

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Fareed Mughis Sheikh, President, Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), has demanded upgradation of Multan civil airport for operation of wide-bodied aircraft and commencement of international flights.

In a letter to General Pervez Musharraf, Chief Executive of Pakistan, he said that Multan region covered three important divisions with increasing business and industrial activities. This area produced about 80 percent cotton of the country was playing an important role in economic development of the country. However, due to the lack of certain facilities like direct international flights and air cargo terminal. This area failed to play its full role in the economic uplift.

He said due to non-availability of direct international flights a large number of people who performed Umra, Hajj, or travelled to the Middle East and European countries every year faced great inconvenience. Exporters of the area too face the same problems. Timely exports of perishable fresh fruits were not possible though these fruits were grown in abundance here.

He said fruit export cargoes were usually delayed due to the lack of sufficient cargo space available in flights originating from other cities. After the Multan airport had been upgraded, the operation of wide-bodied aircraft from here would not only improve export traffic but would also be very beneficial and convenient for area people working abroad. The proposed Export Processing Zone at Multan (EPZM) would only accentuate the need to upgrade the Multan Airport.