In a recent press release, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) shed light on a misleading news report aired by a segment of the broadcasting media. The report, which aired on April 2, 2024, purported to discuss a letter from the Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOOA) to a senior government official. However, PCAA has revealed that the content of the letter was fabricated and aimed at defaming the authority’s leadership and undermining the Central Business District project initiated by the Punjab Government in Lahore.
According to PCAA, the news report failed to provide crucial context regarding safety concerns surrounding the Walton Aerodrome. Due to these concerns, there were proposals to relocate training and other operations to a more suitable location. This decision was prompted by the escalating risks posed by aviation activities to nearby commercial and residential areas.
Highlighting the background of the Central Business District project, PCAA emphasized that it was a government-to-government transaction approved jointly by the Federal and Provincial Cabinets in 2021. The project involved the transfer of land from PCAA to the Lahore Central Business District Development Authority, with ownership divided between the two entities.
PCAA clarified that the former Walton Aerodrome land was transferred to the Central Business District Development Authority of Punjab, which is responsible for the project’s development and execution.
Meanwhile, the PCAA procured land in Muridke for the purpose of establishing the New Walton Muridke Aerodrome. This state-of-the-art general aviation facility covers an area of 643 acres and is currently in the final stages of completion.
