The Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan is undertaking the development of New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA). As a part of the implementation of this prestigious project, CAA has hired the services of a renowned International Consultant, namely M/s Louis Berger Group of USA in association with Pakistani consulting firm M/s ECIL, to undertake Project Management services. The contract signing ceremony is held on January 06, 2006 at the CAA Headquarters, Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, signed by Air Marshal Pervez Akhtar Nawaz, Director General, CAA and Mr. Fredric Berger of the Louis Berger Group.

The NIIA, along with the new terminal building at Karachi and Lahore international airports, was part of CAA’s overall development program. However due to financial commitments on the new terminal projects at Karachi and Lahore, along with other operational works, CAA could not launch this Project earlier. During the last few years, CAA’s financial position has significantly improved. It is thus now able to undertake mega project, such as NIIA.

In September 2004, the Prime Minster was pleased to direct CAA to undertake the construction of NIIA on self-finance basis. He emphasized the need to develop a modern facility befitting to the stature of the capital city and representing progressive aspiration of the Nation. Consequently, CAA invited proposals from renowned Project Management and Design Consultants for the Project.

While the first contract for Project Management Services is signed on January 06, 2006, CAA is close to receiving bids and proposals from International Design Consultants and Signature Architects for design of the New Airport. It is envisaged that the Design Consultants will commence their services by the end of March 2006. Soon after the mobilization of the Project Management Consultant, other processes for invitation of bids and award of construction contracts will be initiated. It is anticipated that the new facility will become operational by 2010.

The new airport site is located on 3,200 acres of land, which was acquired by CAA in the 80’s at Pind Ranjha near Fateh Jang; some 20 km from Zero-Point, Islamabad, and 23 km from Saddar, Rawalpindi involving driving time of only 20-25 minutes through network of motorways and highways. The airport will be developed as a state-of-the-art facility at par with international standards to serve as a major hub for all aviation activities in the region.

Estimated to cost about $300 Million, the new Airport facility, which is the first Green Field airport in Pakistan, shall comprise of a contemporary state-of-the-art passenger terminal building, control tower, runway with a provision of a secondary runway, taxiways, apron, cargo complex, and hangar together with all the necessary infrastructure and ancillary facilities. It would cater to the requirements of latest generation of modern passenger aircrafts. The NIIA will have a modular design to handle 6.5 million passengers per annum and 100,000 metric tones cargo per annum. Being a new airport, a significant portion of the land has been earmarked for commercial purposes such as duty-free shops, hotel and convention center, air malls, business center, food courts, leisure and recreational facilities etc.

The new airport is envisaged to be a modern landmark structure symbolic to represent twenty-first century Pakistan as it will be the diplomatic and business gateway to Pakistan through the Capital City of Islamabad.