International contractors to control Khost airport

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Talks are underway with international contractors to control and manage the airport in southeastern Khost province, an official said on Sunday.

Deputy Transport and Aviation Minister Haseebullah Soroush made the remarks at a meeting at the Khost airport.

He said Khost Civil Airport would soon be open to domestic and international flights in accordance with international aviation standards.

He said Khost was the fifth airport after Kabul, Mazar, Herat and Kandahar to be controlled and managed by international contractors and a positive outcome would be reached in near future.

He added: “All necessary arrangements are in place for the landing of aircraft at the airport and talks are underway to be able to hand over the Khost airport to international contractors …that services of international aviation standards should be provided and all international airlines besides domestic airlines should land at Khost Civil Airport.”

He also said all preparations have been made for the launch of domestic and international flights at Khost airport.

Soroush added that passengers from Loya Paktia, especially Khost, were asked to travel abroad from Khost airport instead of Kabul and other airports.

Khost Governor Maulvi Mohammad Nabi Omari told the gathering that for the first time, instead of generator electricity, three and a half megawatts of imported electricity was connected to Khost Civil Airport.

He said the power, which was connected to the Khost Civil Airport in 25 days at the personal expense of acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, had cost a total of 9.5 million afghanis.

Omari added that pine nuts from Loya Paktia especially Khost province would be exported via Khost Civil Airport to foreign countries.

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