Over the last decade, governments have ruled that Walton Airport would be demolished and replaced with ‘money-generating’ high-rise buildings; courtesy of Lahore Central Business District Development Authority. The matter has been argued in courts for many years; students and instructors of Walton plead their case against a government that wishes to put commercial interests before that of their aviation industry. The result is very much evident.
Recently, the court issued a Stay Order, stating that flight operations at Walton Airport will resume until a new aviation facility at Muridke is constructed and fully operational, as promised. On the 25th, however, the Civil Aviation Authority acted in contempt of court and ordered flight operations to halt. The issue is currently being decided in court and one can only hope that the matter is decided in favor of the hundreds of students whose flying careers are at the risk of being jeopardized.
At a time when the aviation industry has taken numerous hits, one would hope that the government would not insist on demolishing Lahore’s prime aviation facility without even providing an alternative. Hundreds of boys and girls who travelled from across the country to become pilots and engineers - whose families have invested millions in the hopes of securing their children’s aviation careers - are today left at a standstill. If an alternative facility is not created and operations continue to be halted, there is also bound to be a massive shortage of pilots appearing for airline as cadets.