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KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has notified the permanent closure of Lahore’s oldest Walton airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has directed all flying clubs to ground their planes as the airport would be permanently shut down for all operations from tomorrow, according to a notification issued on Tuesday.
According to CAA officials, a business hub would be constructed at Walton airport’s place. During his recent visit to Lahore, PM Imran had said that de-notifying of Walton airport will turn the adjacent areas into an economic hub. The commercial activities will rise up to Rs6,000 billion after de-notifying the airport.
The Walton Airport had served as the airport of Lahore until 1962 and when Pakistan International Airlines included Boeing 720 in its fleet and the old airport could not accommodate the new fleet of aircraft.
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah landed for the first time in the new state of Pakistan at this aerodrome in 1947. It remained under operation as a passenger airport until the early 1960s.
Earlier, the federal cabinet approved the closure owing to potential safety risks at the existing site that may also be used to promote business activities in the near future.
According to the country’s top aviation officials, Walton Airport and Flying Club had now been completely evacuated and a business hub will now be constructed at the location.
A group of philanthropist aviators founded the Punjab Flying Club in 1930 and named it Northern Indian Flying Club later in 1932. It comprises 157.87 acres of land from the forest department in Village Rakh Kot Lakhpat and village Bhabara.
