KARACHI: The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) has announced a comprehensive plan to upgrade the country’s aviation infrastructure, focusing on modernization, safety, and capacity expansion. During an informal discussion with journalists, Director General of the PAA, Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, revealed that the airports in Sukkur, Faisalabad, Dera Ismail Khan, and Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) will be reconstructed with a modern design. Additionally, there are plans to restore the currently inactive airport in Khuzdar.
Regarding the major hubs, a detailed plan for the expansion of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport has been finalized. The operations of Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad airports are also set to be outsourced to improve efficiency and service standards. To ensure safe flight operations and mitigate bird-strike risks, advanced Bird Repellent Systems will be installed at Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Multan airports, with Lahore Airport being the first to receive this technology.
In a move to streamline passenger processing, E-gates will be introduced in phases. The first phase will see the installation of E-gates at Islamabad International Airport, followed by a second phase covering Karachi, Lahore, and Bacha Khan (Peshawar) airports. The DG PAA emphasized that these steps are part of a broader vision to bring Pakistan’s aviation facilities at par with international standards, ensuring both passenger comfort and operational safety.
