Islamabad: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Aviation has urged the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to take the lead in determining the height limits of high-rise buildings around airports, news sources reported on March 7.
Read: CAA specifies height limit for Lahore’s CBD
The standing committee asked the CAA to make laws to ensure safe flight operations around airports. The committee expressed concern over the safety of passengers and crew due to the construction of housing societies around airports, which continue to obstruct flight paths due to violation of height limits. Although the CAA was previously responsible for monitoring development in the affected areas, the committee recommends that the authority should be reinstated to prevent future hazards. The committee has also called for a formal report from the CAA on the safety of funnel zones. In addition, the CAA has requested the committee to revive legislation aimed at separating the regulatory role of the authority from the operational role of airports.
Read: CAA to hire private firm to manage Islamabad Int’l Airport
Recently, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) allowed buildings of 1,000 feet in height in various sectors surrounding airports. The government has previously regulated land development around airports but the constitutional amendments have rendered the authority to the local regulatory bodies which have devised their own rules and laws.