Govt Relocates Walton Airport to Start Mega Projects at Previous Site

The government of Punjab has started the process of shifting the Walton Airport from Nishtar Road to a remote plot of the government to allow the original site to be used for business activities in Lahore.

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan gave the directive for this change and has asked the provincial government to ascertain the viability of shifting the airport to pave the way for two mega projects near the original site.

The government has also approved the Abu Dhabi Group’s high-rise project ‘Taavun’ on Ferozepur Road and the Walton Central Business District project.


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Walton Airport is owned by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the Pakistan Army, and the Army Housing Directorate. The plan to shift it was proposed after the CAA had issued a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the 500-feet high project Taavun that has been deadlocked for over 14 years.

The provincial Chief Secretary, Jawwad Rafique Malik, had briefed the PM on the current status of the project and why it had been halted. He later issued orders to the provincial government to shift the airport and allow business activities on both its site and in the surrounding areas.


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Accordingly, the provincial government had formed a committee to reassess the feasibility of the project. A representative of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) had informed the attendees of the maiden meeting of the committee that the location of Walton Airport posed a serious security risk due to the densely populated residential and commercial areas around it. The CAA had previously canceled the NOC for the project as it fell within the funnel area of the airport.

The Vice-Chairman of the LDA then proposed to have the airport relocated to allow the original site to become a business hub while highlighting the upward trend for high-rise buildings in the city. He said,

The current LDA policies promoted such buildings. However, the Walton Airport continues to be a stumbling block in the development of high-rise buildings in the prime location of Lahore.


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A representative of the CAA endorsed the idea of the relocation at the same meeting and remarked that although only 150 ft. high buildings were allowed in the area, a maximum height of 700 ft. would be permissible in the areas if the airport is relocated.

The provincial cabinet has also approved the establishment of the Lahore Central Business District Development Authority to spearhead business activities in the area.



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