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PESHAWAR, Feb 24 (APP):Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, has formally urged President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to rename the New Islamabad International Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport, honoring the late former prime minister.
In separate letters addressed to the president and prime minister on Monday, Governor Kundi emphasized that the old Islamabad airport was originally named Benazir Bhutto International Airport on June 21, 2008, following her assassination in December 2007. However, in April 2018, the Aviation Division renamed the newly constructed airport as New Islamabad International Airport, removing Bhutto’s name.
Kundi argued that naming major airports after national leaders is a global tradition, citing examples such as Jinnah International Airport Karachi, Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore, and Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi, Sheikh Zayed International Airport Rahim Yar Khan, Begum Nusrat Bhutto International Airport Sukker and others.
He further stated that restoring the name would recognize Bhutto’s contributions and sacrifice for Pakistan’s democracy. Given that the old Islamabad airport has now been converted into a Technology Park, it is even more significant to revive the original name for the current international airport, he added.
The Governor urged the Prime Minister and President to take immediate action in response to public demand and direct relevant authorities to implement the change.
A response from the Prime Minister’s and President’s Offices is still awaited.