RAWALPINDI: The caretaker federal minister for aviation made a surprise visit to the Islamabad International Airport on Sunday, the same day that the chief justice of Pakistan, upon landing at Islamabad International Airport (IIA) after visiting Karachi, warned the airport management of an impending surprise visit in the near future.

Minister for Aviation Abdullah Hussain Haroon said during his visit that efforts are being made to ensure the best services are provided at Islamabad International Airport (IIA).

Senior security officials, Airport Security Force (ASF), the airport manager, officials from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), PakistanInternational Airlines and the Aviation Division were also present.

The minister inspected various parts of the airport, reviewed flight operations and the provision of facilities to passengers and was briefed by a senior ASF official on security at the airport and in the airport`s vicinity. CAA officials also briefed the minister on operations and f acilities provided by airlines.

Mr Haroon was also informed of the issues facing passengers at the NHS toll plaza near the airport.

He said these issues would be resolved soon and he would take them up with the government.

He also directed the concerned authorities to ensure internationalstandard facilities are provided to passengers, and expressed satisfactionwith the operations at IIA.

CJP warns of visit Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar arrived on Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-308 at around 7:30pm and had a fewwords with airport officials before leaving for the capital, sources said.

A source said the chief justice warned airport authorities he would make a surprise visit to the airport soon.

Justice Nisar has already taken notice of r ainwater flooding an airline of fice on the airport premises earlier this month, and had directed the airport manager and head of the construction firm to appear before the Lahore High Court.

The court was satisfied af ter beinginformed that the water did not enter the terminal building.

Fire at IIA Separately, a fire broke out in a private cargo office at IIA on Saturday,apparently due to a short circuit, at around 6:30pm. Firefighters rushed to the scene immediately and controlled the fire, and no one was repor-ted injured.

S t a f f Reporter