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CAA chief issues directives to replace Plastic Bags with disposable shopping bags

Karachi, June 21, 2019: Secretary Aviation/Director General, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (DGCAA) Shahrukh Nusrat, presiding over a meeting of PCAA’s Executive Committee, held today (21 June 2019) at CAA Headquarters while referring the Prime Minister’s ‘Clean & Green Pakistan’ initiative has issued directives that all airlines, ground-handlers and other stakeholders functioning at the airports of the country to must ensure stoppage of the use of plastic bags, henceforth, replacing it with the environment-friendly ‘bio-degradable’ (disposable) shopping bags.

DGCAA Shahrukh Nusrat has further asked to promote eco-friendly at all airports, in-line with the drive of ‘Clean & Green Pakistan’, as per the vision of Prime Minister of Pakistan and discourage any step that could possibly damage the environment. He also emphasized it is necessary for the sustainable development that all the stakeholders should work together to make Pakistan’s airports eco-friendly. ‘PCAA would certainly support any such initiative that would improve the environment’, he added.

Elaborating the PM’s vision, the DG PCAA said it is one of our prime objectives to provide every possible facility to the passengers to ensure their comfort, convenience, and safety. All airports are being upgraded speedily to provide modern facilities in this regard.

Shahrukh Nusrat further said that the wrapping of passengers’ baggage in plastic covers for safety is being made mandatory. This will be applicable to both domestic and international passengers. New plastic wrapping machines are being installed on an urgent basis for wrapping of luggage of the passengers, as most of the airports have one single machine in their each check-in area, causing an all-time rush of passengers.

He said mandatory wrapping of baggage would not affect the travelers financially, as the charges of such wrapping would be less than half of the current rates after the installation of additional machines so that they could reach their destination along with their baggage without paying heavily.

Shahrukh Nusrat has also issued directives to the respective officers of PCAA to keep vigil if any staff (porter/loader) of any airline is found asking any illegitimate favor, i.e. bribe, Baksheesh, reward, etc. The one should be penalized, his work-permit for working on the airport would be confiscated and his employer would be bound to dismiss him/her from the duty, putting a lifetime ban (black-listed) on him/her for any job on the airport, as well.

To further improve the facilities to passengers and meeters-greeters, a pedestrian ramp is being installed at Islamabad International Airport to mechanically connect level two and level three while installation of night landing facility at Gwadar International Airport has been planned. In this regard, DGCAA issued directives to expedite both the projects and report him the progress regularly to ensure their timely completion.

To promote the Pakistani industry, the DGCAA has issued instructions to install, as far as possible locally-made equipment, machinery, etc at all airports, encouraging the purchase of ‘made-in-Pakistan’ equipment and machinery. However, specialized and hi-tech equipment can be imported, if the same are not available locally.

DGCAA also said that the airports play a key role in giving the first impression to travellers from abroad. Hence, we should ensure that our airports should reflect our culture, civilization, and values, so that the foreign passengers get a good impression, right after landing on the Pak Soil and it will portray our good image all over the world.

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