By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the expansion of Karachi and Lahore airports under their master plans and set a goal of turning Karachi into an air cargo hub.
Chairing a meeting on airport expansion and passenger facilities in Islamabad, Sharif told officials that the projects must be completed within their stipulated timelines and meet international standards, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) shared on X.
He said there must be no compromise on the quality of construction and that passenger convenience should remain the “top priority”. He ordered third-party validation of reforms aimed at improving the expansion projects and travel facilities, and told authorities to bring in internationally renowned institutions to raise facilities to global standards.
The approval covers Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore and Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. Officials presented the master plans for both, setting out the proposed work and timelines. The statement did not give costs or completion dates.
The meeting was also briefed on a recent survey by an international firm assessing the quality of travel facilities at major airports. The statement did not say what the survey found.
Sharif called for regular training in high-quality service delivery for officers and staff who deal with passengers, and for better coordination among the various agencies working at airports.
“The services of the best caterers [should] be obtained for passengers at airports, and there will be no compromise on the quality of food and beverages,” the statement said.
Officials told the prime minister that the runway expansion at Jinnah International Airport had been completed. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is carrying out upgrades at airports across the country, had also brought 14 airports back into service.
“During the past year, the CAA activated 14 airports to restore domestic flights,” the statement said.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had increased staffing and the number of counters at airports, the meeting heard. It had also set up pre-departure desks at major airports to guide passengers, while a meet-and-greet service had been launched at Islamabad airport.
Work was under way on automated border management systems, known as e-gates, at major airports, officials said. “Work is also ongoing on the air cargo village to make Karachi an air cargo hub,” the statement said.
The meeting was also told that the existing aviation institution in Hyderabad was being upgraded into an international-standard aviation university.
“The meeting was informed that the existing aviation institution in Hyderabad is being further improved to establish an international standard aviation university, with work to commence by February 2028,” the PMO said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attended, along with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Also present were the prime minister’s adviser Muhammad Ali, the MNAs Raja Osama Sarwar and Ali Zahid, the prime minister’s coordinator Sardar Yasir Ilyas and senior officials.
Thursday’s meeting follows a run of announcements on airport upgrades. In February, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced a Rs100bn expansion plan for Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, including a new terminal building, a modern cargo village and other facilities to meet rising passenger demand. The project is part of efforts to expand capacity at the country’s busiest airport.
The reconstructed main runway at Karachi, upgraded to Code 4F standards to handle the Airbus A380, was also inaugurated in February. The PAA said it was completed within 18 months.
At Lahore, a new passenger terminal is intended to increase capacity and improve the passenger experience.
Authorities have also been introducing technology to speed up passenger processing and strengthen security. In November 2025, self-boarding kiosks were installed at Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad airports to help passengers obtain boarding cards and complete immigration-related procedures. In January, authorities moved towards installing advanced baggage-scanning systems at those three airports.
Earlier this month, Sharif ordered the installation of “smart scanners” at all international airports to facilitate travellers.
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