I am sure majority of people in Pakistan are not aware that Our Hyderabad Sindh got the prestige to have first AIR UNIVERSITY of ASIA run by civil aviation of Pakistan and people from all over the world come to our beloved city to learn. And yet our airport is shut down. Does it make any sense to any one???? No. Hyderabad has a huge need and demand for air traffic as hundreds of citizens of Hyderabad fly daily domestic and international but they have to go all the way to Karachi and it is very very problematic when you have to be at Karachi airport 3 to 4 hours earlier then the travel time between Karachi and Hyderabad and one hour travel in Karachi and if you are stuck in traffic then there is always a danger of missing flight. then there are security concerns as most flights arrive late night or arrive early in the morning.
I can give you my personal experience that every time i visit my city Hyderabad Sindh all the way from Toronto Canada it just kills me and how dangerous it is to travel in late night or pay to stay in hotel in Karachi.
I have done my research that citizens of Hyderabad and people from all over Sindh ( HYDERABAD IS THE HUB AND MAJOR LINK TO ALL OF SINDH BEING THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF SINDH) frequently travel to following destinations:
Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Colombo, Beijing, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, London, Zurich, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Toronto Canada, New York, Los angles and San Francisco USA.
I am not making up but you can check the records of Travel agencies in Hyderabad yourself.
That proves that there is a real need for International Airport in Hyderabad for growing domestic and International Flights and airport must be capable for landing of modest modern air bus and Boeing aircrafts. It only makes more sense cuz’ we are the only city with AIR UNIVERSITY too.
Those who have traveled through Hyderabad Airport in the past still remember falling in love with our Airport as its unique beautiful design at that time though it had a small terminal. This airport must have 2 terminals one for domestic and one for international. As i said earlier Hyderabad is the nerve centre of Sindh so all the flights for sindh and Pakistan should connect here. And for international immediately the destinations i mentioned should be started by PIA and other international airlines should also be invited. Gulf Air, Etihaad, Emirates, and Qatar Airways have already shown interest to expand in Pakistan. This airport should be designed on most modern airlines but its design must be appropriate to SINDHI Culture and Design as our city is a cultural capital of sindh and one of the ancient cities of south Asia. It should be named after Hazrat Shah Abdul latif bhitai International Airport.
Now reasons why it is shut down:
1. Hyderabad always victimized by all governments and have been victim of conspiracy theory.
2.PIA used false excuse under pressure that there is not enough business which is just a lie, while PIA is running empty flights to Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Quetta, Faisalabad under pressure of politicians.
3.CAA (Civil Aviation) and Miltary considers Hyderabad a security risk to have a major International Airport being Hyderabad the most sensitive city of Pakistan. First of all CAA has to wake up as the ONLY AIR UNIVERSITY is functioning successfully since late 70′s. There has been not a single incident of any kind related to National Security. Secondly If we are thinking of a threat then it should be Sialkot which just sits next to INDIA but Government of Pakistan and CAA are building International Airport in Sialkot very quietly.
4. I understand that Hyderabad has seen a very bloody past and gone through a civil war and still divided on ethnic lines literally and technically but so is city of Beruit in Lebanon but then it does not disqualify the city to have a major international airport. Beruit does have a very busy and major international airport.
5. As we are all aware that Hyderabad sits on a Earthquake Fault line and it immediately needs a major international airport in case God forbid something big hits our city. Hyderabad has the same situation like San Francisco and first thing they did was to build a big international airport. When San Francisco was hit by a major earthquake airport was the best place for relief work and rehabilitation work.
6.There was a discussion to change location of Hyderabad Airport from the present one that is possible if it helps to build the new international airport for Hyderabad.
7. There is a huge concern regarding the road which connects with Current airport and has been identified as security risk and not safe for travelers. Then Hyderabad Government can come up with the idea of building an elevated express way and a fast rail link from current Hyderabad airport to city, Qasimabad and Latifabad.
I have tried my best to educate and make aware my fellow citizens about the reasons for shutting down our airport. Hyderabad the Cultural and commercial capital of Sindh and a major transportation hub in Pakistan cannot be neglected and ignored any more on any kind of false excuses. Hyderabad Sindh will not take any more hate and biases from any one any more.