PM Shehbaz approves expansion of Karachi, Lahore airports

Directs authorities to meet project deadlines, improve passenger facilities and ensure international standards

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the expansion of Karachi and Lahore airports under their respective master plans, directing authorities to complete the projects within the stipulated timelines and ensure compliance with international standards.

Chairing a meeting on airport expansion and passenger facilities in Islamabad, the prime minister stressed that passenger convenience must remain the top priority, adding that there would be no compromise on the quality of construction work.

According to a statement shared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on X, PM Shehbaz directed the relevant authorities to engage internationally renowned institutions to improve passenger facilities and ensure third-party validation of reforms aimed at upgrading airport infrastructure and services.

He also called for regular training of airport staff to improve service delivery and better coordination among the various agencies operating at airports. He directed the authorities to engage leading catering companies to ensure high-quality food and beverages for passengers.

پاکستانی ایئرپورٹس پر مسافروں کی سہولت اولین ترجیح بنائی جائے، وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے ائیرپورٹس پر بین الاقوامی معیار کو مد نظر رکھ کر سہولیات مزید بہتر بنانے کی ہدایت کردی.

وزیرِ اعظم نے لاہور اور کراچی ائیرپورٹس کی ماسٹر پلانز کے تحت توسیع کی منظوری دے دی. وزیرِ اعظم نے… pic.twitter.com/RPFOsTKWBB

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) October 29, 2026

The meeting was briefed on a recent survey conducted by an international firm to assess the quality of facilities at major airports across the country. Officials also presented the master plans for Karachi and Lahore airports, outlining the proposed expansion projects and their timelines.

The meeting was further informed about development and upgradation work being undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at airports nationwide.

Officials told the prime minister that the runway expansion at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport had been completed. “During the past year, the CAA activated 14 airports to restore domestic flights,” the statement said.

Officials also informed the meeting that the Federal Investigation Agency had increased staffing and the number of counters at airports to facilitate passengers.

Also Read: Multibillion-rupee airport upgrade drive launched

Work on installing automated border management systems, or e-gates, at major airports was also under way. A project to establish an air cargo village was progressing, with the aim of developing Karachi into an air cargo hub, according to the statement.

The prime minister was also informed that a meet-and-greet service had been launched at Islamabad airport to facilitate passengers.

Officials further briefed him on plans to upgrade the existing aviation institution in Hyderabad into an international-standard aviation university, with work scheduled to begin by February 2028.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Prime Minister's Adviser Muhammad Ali, MNAs Raja Osama Sarwar and Ali Zahid, Prime Minister's Coordinator Sardar Yasir Ilyas and senior officials attended the meeting.

Pakistan’s airport infrastructure modernisation drive has gathered pace, with major expansion and upgradation projects planned or under way at key airports. In February, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced a Rs100 billion 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 drive has also focused on improving runway infrastructure and enabling airports to accommodate larger aircraft.

Karachi airport’s reconstructed main runway, upgraded to Code 4F standards to handle the Airbus A380, was inaugurated in February too. The runway project was completed within 18 months, according to the PAA.

Meanwhile, expansion work at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport remains a key part of the country’s aviation development programme, with a new passenger terminal intended to increase capacity and improve the passenger experience.

Alongside physical expansion, authorities have been pursuing technology-led improvements to passenger processing and airport 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 more efficiently.

Then in January, authorities also moved towards installing advanced baggage-scanning systems at major airports, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, to speed up screening and strengthen security. These initiatives form part of a wider effort to bring airport operations closer to international standards.