RAWALPINDI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued an advisory to pilots of all airlines landing at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport and other stakeholders to use and land aircraft at the new Islamabad International Airport, as it will be made operational on April 20. Prime Minister Shahid Khagan Abbasi will be the chief guest at the event.

According to a senior CAA official, this is the second notice to airmen, or NOTAM issued in this regard. The first was for an earlier inauguration date. A NOTAM is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of any changes in routes.Meanwhile, leader of the opposition in Senate, Sherry Rehman has submitted an adjournment motion to discuss the civil aviation`s decision to make the new airport operational on April 20 despite the fact that the matteris underinvestigation by the National Accountability Bureau for corruption worth billions.

According to sources, CAA has formed an organising committee to make arrangements for the inauguration of the new airport.

The committee is headed by Deputy Director General Syed Amir Mehboob and has been tasked with making the inauguration ceremony successful, to ensure thetimely preparation of invitation cards and to obtain confirmations and regrets from those invited.

A security checking committee has also been informed to ensure security arrangements in coordination with the local police.

This committee will ensure the entrance of invited guests through a designated entrance in the inauguration area.

A reception committee headed by Syed Amir Mehboob will make arrangements for and receive the chief guest and other dignitaries in coordination with the event management firm. Two school-going children will present bouquets to the chief guest alongwith an 11-member reception committee.

Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers on board Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights did not have pillows available to them due to a lack of pillow covers in the last few days.

Business class passengers were provided with pillows, but those in economy class were told to make do with blankets.

PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said this was not due to a change in policy and that the lack of pillows was due to a delay in the supply of pillow covers. He said the problem has been addressed now. Mohammad Asghar