PM approves Lahore and Karachi airport expansion under master plans

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the expansion of Lahore and Karachi airports under their existing master plans, directing that both projects be completed within the timelines laid down in those plans and built to international standards.

The approval was given at a meeting in Islamabad on airport expansion and passenger facilitation, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office carried by the Associated Press of Pakistan. Business Recorder reported the same approval and the prime minister's direction on timely completion.

The meeting reviewed the findings of a recent survey by an international firm assessing the quality of passenger facilities at major airports. The prime minister ordered third-party validation of the reforms and said internationally reputed firms should be engaged to improve services, adding that no compromise would be made on construction quality.

He directed that officers and staff responsible for passenger facilitation receive regular training, and called for better coordination among the agencies operating at airports, saying passenger convenience must remain the top priority. Authorities were also told to engage reputable caterers, with no leniency on the quality of food and beverages offered to travellers.

Officials briefed the meeting on the master plans for Lahore and Karachi airports, including proposed expansion and construction schedules. They said the runway expansion at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi had been completed.

According to the briefing, the Civil Aviation Authority made 14 airports operational over the past year to allow domestic flight operations to resume. Installation of automated border management systems, known as E-Gates, at major airports is progressing rapidly, and work is under way on an Air Cargo Village intended to develop Karachi into an air cargo hub.

A Meet and Greet service has been introduced at Islamabad International Airport, while the Federal Investigation Agency has set up pre-departure desks at major airports and increased both staffing and the number of counters to guide passengers.

The meeting was told that an existing aviation institution in Hyderabad is being upgraded into an aviation university designed to meet international standards, with work expected to begin by February 2028.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema and Attaullah Tarar, the prime minister's adviser Muhammad Ali, MNAs Raja Osama Sarwar and Ali Zahid, and the prime minister's coordinator Sardar Yasir Ilyas attended, along with senior officials.