Have you ever visited Peshawar by air? Or have come to Peshawar through an international flight? If not then you have missed something unique. Because it is one of the most chaotic airports.

Before discussing the airport building and immigration I’d like to mention one thing that Peshawar air strip is truly one of its kind in the whole world because towards the South a railway track crosses through the strip. It was pretty much functional until late 90s. I am not sure what’s its status these days. So once F-6, a fighter jet, was taxing when it collided with the freight train. Luckily, the pilot survived but the jet was badly damaged.

So talking of chaos the first signs of commotion, though less in intensity begins, when the plane gets ready for landing. I am talking about those flights that are full of passengers, mostly blue-collar workers, working in the Middle East. Despite repeated announcements and request from the crew the passengers stand up in the aisles and start collecting their luggage from the cabinets while the plane is still taxing.

As soon as the door is opened and they feel the whiff of air another surge of commotion occurs, this time a little violent, since it involves pushing and dragging. People literally jump out of the plane covering two, three steps in one go.  As if it’s a local Afridi bus instead of Boeing 777. There is no bus service at the Peshawar airport since most of the planes are parked closely to the building – international lounge- as they call it and one can walk.

The immigration looks more like a fish market. People shout, get edgy, harsh, irrational, step on each other’s shoes. There is no concept of queue whatsoever. Everyone is in a hurry. Whoever is powerful and brazen will get his passport stamped and leave. I don’t know why they are in such hurry. And when they emerged from the International arrival section there are at least fifteen people, young and old from the family to receive one passenger.

It is usually an unpleasant experience if you are arriving at Peshawar airport from abroad. I have heard from friends, Islamabad – now Benazir International Airport is much better.

I got these photos from the Google images. Take a look at the Peshawar airport building that looks so haunted. I wonder when was this photo taken because this place is crammed with people 24/7. And I mean it. The second photo is of an airliner. Usually the planes don’t park that far off the building.