LAHORE: The Aircraft Owners & Operators Association (AOOA) wrote a letter to Federal Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, alleging a mega corruption scandal in the land sale of Walton airport in Lahore.
According to the details mentioned in the letter, Walton Airport land was valued at 350 billion rupees. Airport land was unlawfully sold for 50 billion in exchange for rural land at Mureedke.
However, in a recent development, a spokesperson of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has denied the allegations and clarified that the recent letter from the aviation industry association appears to be yet another desperate attempt to defame the leadership of the PCAA.
READ MORE: Sialkot Airport shuts down for all kinds of domestic and international flights
In a letter, the Aircraft Owners & Operators Association (AOOA) revealed that the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) received only 1 billion out of 50 billion. The aviation association demanded an investigation from the Aviation Minister as to where the remaining money from the sale of the airport land went.
Wing Commander (Retd) Muhammad Nawaz Asim, General Secretary AOOA, alleged in the letter that this sale violates the rules and regulations set by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Is this real? A corruption scandal unfolding of sale of Walton airport land to CBD and consequent transfer of Walton Aerodrome to Muridke pic.twitter.com/wAGQwxpIsN
— Momin Sheikh (@MominISheikh) April 2, 2024
Furthermore, the letter added that the national assets were destroyed by the land mafia with the involvement of the Director-General of CAA and government officials. The matter of scams in the land sale of Lahore Airport should be sent to NAB, the association demanded. The letter states that Walton Airport was the center of general aviation in Pakistan. Walton Airport was also used by Quaid-e-Azam for his first travel in 1947.
CAA denies Walton Airport corruption scandal
According to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCCA) spokesperson, this letter is full of baseless allegations. Both the federal and Punjab governments jointly approved this project, where 52% ownership is with CAA and 48% with Punjab Government.
The Federal Government decided in 2021 to move aviation operations from Walton Aerodrome to a more suitable location due to major safety issues. The land was given to the Government of Punjab for commercial reasons, PCCA added.
READ MORE: Bids from interested parties invited for PIA privatization
The Government of Punjab (GoPb) / Lahore Central Business District Development Authority (LCBDDA), subsequently renamed as Punjab Central Business District, received the land at Walton Aerodrome under the Federal Cabinet’s decision.
Additionally, PCCA said that the decision to relocate Walton Airport to Muridke was not the result of any collusion between government officials and land mafias, as concocted in the letter. PCAA has purchased 480 acres of land in Muridke from the Punjab Government to establish a new General Aviation Aerodrome which is in the final stage of completion.
