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Chitral airport; Basic amenities demanded

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: In Chitral Airport, there are only two kerosene heaters in the waiting lounge for fifty passengers to fight the chilly weather where mercury dwindles below zero mark, the passengers complained. Talking to chitraltimes.com here on Tuesday, they said that the airport lacks basic facilities while each passenger pays 200 rupees as airport tax to the civil aviation authority (CAA). They said that the passengers contain children and patients as well who need proper heating facility without which they will be health problems. They complained that most of the passengers wait for the plane shivering with cold in the icy room. The passengers said that CAA has utterly failed to provide other basic facilities in the Chitral airport. Enumerating the problems, they said that no flight enquiry telephone number of the airport is available which helps the passengers and their relatives to know about the operation of the flights. They added that only seven baggage trolleys are available in the arrival lounge for fifty passengers who are left with no option but to carry it on their backs. The passengers also said that in the arrival lounge, they have to wait for more half an hour time in the absence of proper arrangement for downloading and carriage of the luggage. They also felt the need of a proper canteen in the airport area where they could get a hot cup of tea to warm themselves. In the summer season, they said that cold water is the most sought-after commodity in the airport area speaking about the utter negligence of CAA. The passengers suggested that if the CAA is denying the basic facilities in the airport, then no more airport tax must be levied on the passengers.