PM Approves Lahore and Karachi Airport Expansion, Puts Passenger Comfort First
Pakistan’s two busiest airports are set to grow. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the expansion of Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore and Jinnah International Airport in Karachi under their respective master plans, chairing a meeting in Islamabad on airport expansion and passenger facilities.
What the meeting decided
The prime minister was blunt about standards: construction must meet international benchmarks and finish within the stipulated timelines, with no compromise on quality. He ordered independent third-party validation of the reforms meant to improve airport infrastructure and passenger services, so the upgrades are checked by outsiders, not just the agencies doing the work. The meeting also reviewed a recent survey by an international firm that assessed the quality of passenger facilities at the country’s major airports.
Passenger convenience, he said, has to come first at every airport in the country. To that end he directed that internationally renowned organisations be engaged to improve airport services, that officers and staff who assist passengers receive regular training in service delivery, and that the various agencies working at airports coordinate better with each other. On food, too, the message was plain: reputable caterers will be engaged, and the quality of food and beverages served to passengers will not be compromised.
Karachi runway done, cargo village under way
Officials told the meeting that the runway expansion at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi has been completed. Work is also progressing on an Air Cargo Village aimed at turning Karachi into a major air cargo hub, which should strengthen the city’s role in freight and trade. Automated border management — e-gates — is being installed at major airports as well.
Work across the country
The Civil Aviation Authority briefed the meeting on development and upgradation work under way nationwide. Fourteen airports have been made operational over the past year to restore domestic flights, officials said. A Meet and Greet service has started at Islamabad Airport to help arriving and departing passengers, and the Federal Investigation Agency has set up pre-departure desks at major airports to guide travellers before they board. In Hyderabad, an aviation institution is to be upgraded into an international-standard aviation university, with work expected to begin by February 2028.
