ISLAMABAD Jul 27: Minister for Defence Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar Tuesday informed the Upper House of the Parliament that Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) earned Rs. 271,644,829 during the last three year. Responding during the question hour session, he said that the income was generated through contracts awarded for car parking at 16 airports in different cities of the country.
He said Rs. 86,982,898 was earned during the year 2007-08, similarly, an amount of Rs. 106,739,256 was earned in 2008-09 and Rs. 77,922,675 was earned during 2009-10.
He said that there are 148 shops/counters, 58 food outlets/ cafeterias/ tuck shop, 16 rent-a-car/ radio cab and 73 PCOs/ pay card phone booth established at airports of the country.
During the fiscal year 2009-10 an amount of income Rs. 138,886,369 was contributed by shops/counters, Rs. 178,253,992 by Food outlets/ cafeterias/ tuck shop, Rs 56,719,119 by rent-a-car/ radio cab and Rs. 5,749,300 by PCOs/ pay card phone booth.
Responding to supplementary questions, the Minister said that Ministry is taking measures to improve the quality and services of PIA.
The senators from Balochistan expressed concern over PIA fares from Quetta to Islamabad. The Minister assured the House that he would look into the causes of higher fares, however, he said that there are certain reasons behind higher fares.
To another question he said “we haven’t money to purchase more planes, we are borrowing money uptill now. PIA did not get even a single rupee grant during the last ten years.”
He said “we know the reasons why are we losing money, but we are trying to improve services.” |
