Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan said arrangements have been made at all airports of the country for diagnosis and screening of coronavirus. He said the situation was under control in Pakistan.
During a media talk at the inauguration of new Media and IT Centre at Meteorology Department on Sunday, the minister said screening facility with medical technicians has been provided at all international airports of the country where each incoming suspected passenger would be properly checked by doctors and qualified medical technicians.
However, he said the situation was satisfactory so far as no positive case of coronavirus was reported. To a question, he said no political ally of the PTI government was leaving the alliance, nor any in-house change in the Parliament was in sight.
Regarding new PIA chief executive, Ghulam Sarwar Khan said the decision of the Supreme Court would be accepted in this regard. The minister said under the new Aviation Policy 2019, talks were underway to bring international airlines to Pakistan, for which five new aircraft would be inducted in PIA fleet to successfully meet the competitive environment in the aviation industry.
He asserted that meteorological department had major role in flying and shipping operations of a country and its connectivity with rest of the world through air and sea routes. The federal minister stressed the need for improving and expanding the scope of Pakistan Metrological Department, adding that present government had so far taken various steps in this direction, however, a lot had yet to be done.
On the suggestion of PMD Director General Muhammad Riaz regarding provision of subsidy on electricity for PMD radars, the Federal Minister said that he would duly consider this proposal with relevant quarters including WAPDA. Joint Secretary (Aviation) Imran Jamil Shami, Chief Meteorologists Mahr Sahibzad Khan and Dr Muhammad Hanif, and staff of Lahore Meteorological Office were also present.
