Sialkot: High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan Tarik Ali Khan paid a visit to the Sialkot International Airport Lomited (SIAL) on Wednesday. He was warmly received by Chairman SIAL Abdul Ghafoor Malik, Vice Chairman Syed Shahid Raza, Member of the Board of Directors, and CEO SIAL AVM Tanweer Ashraf Bhatti. The high commissioner was accompanied by Trade Commissioner Zohaib Khan and Zarmeena Nayyer, office of the public affairs Canadian High Commission Islamabad.
During the visit, Chairman SIAL Abdul Ghafoor Malik briefed High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan on history, development, operations and evolving potential of the Sialkot International Airport. He highlighted the airport’s unique journey as Pakistan’s first privately owned international airport, established through the vision and collective efforts of the Sialkot business community.
He appreciated the visit of the High Commissioner, describing it as a reflection of the strong and longstanding bilateral relations between Pakistan and Canada. The chairman SIAL stated that Canada and Pakistan have enjoyed the most cordial relations that have withstood the test of time. He added:” We remain grateful for Canada’s support to Pakistan rendered in education, health, and development cooperation, but beyond this industrial legacy, our business community has long championed the highest standards of corporate social responsibility, pioneering numerous monumental projects on a strictly self-help basis, a spirit of enterprise that proudly brought to life the very landmark we stand in today: ‘the Sialkot International Airport.’
Expressing his views on the occasion, Canadian High Commissioner Mr. Tarik Ali Khan stated:
‘I am pleased to be at the Sialkot International Airport which is undoubtedly a testament of the SCCI and business community of Sialkot. He said Airports in Canada are being run by public private partnership. The High Commissioner added that Sialkot holds immense potential and building and successfully operating an international airport is an example of the potential.
He said” I look forward to further strengthen the bilateral ties, trade export and in aviation industry”.
Tarik Ali Khan lauded the untiring efforts of the Sialkot business community, stating that Sialkot is already known worldwide for its exemplary products and has now added an airport that is ‘one of its kind.’
