KARACHI – In a significant boost to Pakistan’s aviation infrastructure, the Secretary of Defence, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Ali, officially inaugurated the newly reconstructed main runway at Jinnah International Airport today. The first commercial flight is scheduled to touch down on this state-of-the-art landing strip on February 19.
Project Highlights and Technical Upgrades
The reconstruction of runway 07L/25R was completed within a record timeframe of 18 months. Notably, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) achieved this milestone without any cost overruns or delays, a feat praised by the Secretary of Defence. The runway has been upgraded to Code 4F international standards, meaning the new strip is now capable of accommodating “Super Jumbo” aircraft, including the Airbus A380. This upgrade positions Karachi as a more competitive hub for international long-haul carriers.
The Inauguration Ceremony
Upon his arrival at the PAA Headquarters, the Secretary of Defence was received by Director General Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed and Additional Secretary Major General Qaiser Suleman. A detailed briefing was provided by the DG and senior officials, including DG CAA Nadir Shafi Dar and Deputy DG Luqman Rasheed. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, commemorative shields were exchanged. The Secretary of Defence presented an honorary shield to DG PAA Zeeshan Saeed, while several project leads—including Deputy DG Sameer Saeed, Director P&D Ghulam Abbas Sheikh, Airport Manager Adnan Khan, and Project Director Zahid Ishaq—were also recognized for their exceptional contributions to the project.
