MULTAN, May 29th:Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan, President of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) and former President of FPCCI Mian Tanvir Ahmed Sheikh have urged upon the civil aviation authorities (CAA) to allow to introduce international flights and operation of wide bodied aircrafts from Multan airport immediately.They said while addressing a meeting of executive committee of MCCI here today that CAA should not wait for the formal inauguration of first phase of Multan airport's upgradation and it should start the operation because experts have issued fitness certificate to the runway and tax-way of Multan airport on May 20. CAA authorities said," we have contacted the Prime Minister Secretariat for the inaugural ceremony of Multan airport on June 19 or any other date.MCCI has decided to organise the best performance award ceremony ,in which Prime Minister is expected to be the chief Guest. It expressed its deep grief and sorrow on the demise of Shaikh Farooq Ahmed , a member of executive committee of MCCI.
MULTAN, May 29th: Mango and Citrus exporters have sharply reacted on abolishing the cargo quota of Multan and allotment of entirespace to the exporters of Lahore and Karachi describing it a great injustice and suspension of export of 40 to 50 tons mango daily to different destinations.A delegation of Mango exporters comprising Mian Muhammad Arshad, Mian Farooq and Rana Imran called on President of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan and apprised him of their grievances.They said that our shipment to Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Qatar and Doha were suspended due to abolishment of caqrgo quota since May 15,2010 without assigning any reason. MCCI President Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan expressed his concern on this act of National flag carrier airlines and appealed to Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to take immediate action for restoration of cargo qouta on International flights for Multanites.Khurram Javed Secretary of MCCI and Khawaja Abdul Rehman Jami were also present on the occasion.