Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has formally requested Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to rename the New Islamabad International Airport as Benazir Bhutto Airport, 24NewsHD TV reported on Monday.
In an official letter to the prime minister, Governor Kundi highlighted that the federal cabinet had already approved naming the airport after the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto back in 2008. He further pointed out that Pakistan has numerous landmarks named after national leaders, underscoring the importance of preserving political legacies through such designations.
This request comes shortly after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government renamed Peshawar’s Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium to Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, honoring the former prime minister’s contributions to Pakistani sports. The renaming decision, approved during the February 21 provincial cabinet meeting, was spearheaded by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, with KP Sports Minister Syed Fakhar Jahan clarifying that the move was aimed at recognizing Imran Khan’s cricket legacy beyond political lines.
These two high-profile renaming debates have stirred conversations about political symbolism in Pakistan’s public spaces. While the KP government pays tribute to Imran Khan’s sporting achievements, Governor Kundi’s push to restore Benazir Bhutto’s name to Islamabad’s main airport has reignited discussions around national identity and leadership recognition.
The final decision on the airport’s renaming now lies with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal government.
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Just call it Islamabad international airport. It belongs to all people of Pakistan and not to one personality only.
نام بدلنے سے کیا جہاز اچھے طریقے سے اتریں گے یا گورنر نے صرف سیاست ہی کرنی ھے۔
Its only a political move .. they are not thinking about Improving the standard of National carrier. Shits
this only happens in pakistan!!!
Calling it by city names, these entities are more easy to access. Any layman will able to judge where the entity exists if it is called by the city name.
so, stop calling any entity by any body’s name.
What political legacy they want to preserve, a corruption queen, mr 10 percent, a money launderer group and a u turn thief?
Name what belongs to people simply.