PM Shehbaz approves expansion of Lahore, Karachi airports

Shehbaz said internationally renowned organisations should be engaged to improve airport services. He ordered regular, high-quality service delivery training for officers and staff responsible for assisting passengers. The prime minister called for better coordination among different agencies operating at airports, stressing that passenger convenience must remain the top priority.

He also directed authorities to engage reputable catering companies and ensure that food quality was not compromised. The directives were issued during a meeting chaired by the prime minister in Islamabad to review airport expansion in major cities and measures to improve passenger facilities.

The meeting was briefed on a recently completed survey by an international firm assessing the standard of passenger facilities at major airports. Officials also briefed the meeting on expansion plans for Karachi and Lahore airports, as well as ongoing development and upgrading projects being undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority across the country.

The meeting was informed that the runway expansion at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, had been completed. The prime minister was briefed on the master plans for Lahore and Karachi airports, including expansion schedules and construction timelines.

He directed that the projects be completed. The meeting was informed that the Civil Aviation Authority had made 14 airports operational for domestic flights over the past year. The Federal Investigation Agency had also increased staffing and the number of counters to facilitate passengers.

Work on installing automated border management systems, known as E-Gates, at major airports is progressing rapidly, officials said. Work is also underway on an air cargo village to develop Karachi into an air cargo hub.

Officials said a meet-and-greet service had been introduced at Islamabad International Airport to facilitate passengers. The FIA has also established pre-departure desks at major airports to provide timely guidance to travellers. The meeting was further informed that an existing aviation institution in Hyderabad was being upgraded into an international-standard aviation university, with work scheduled to begin by February 2028.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Federal Minister Dr Musadik Malik, Ahsan Khan Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Prime Minister’s Adviser Muhammad Ali, Members of the National Assembly Raja Usama Sarwar and Ali Zahid, Prime Minister’s Coordinator Sardar Yasir Ilyas, and relevant senior officials attended the meeting.