Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the expansion of Karachi and Lahore airports based on their master plans, ordering officials to upgrade passenger amenities to global benchmarks and finish the work within set deadlines. The prime minister stated that traveler comfort must stay the primary focus at Pakistani aviation hubs, demanding zero tolerance for substandard expansion work or services. During an Islamabad session concerning airport upgrades and traveler services, Shehbaz instructed officials to arrange independent third-party evaluations for the growth blueprints and related upgrades.
He further requested expertise from globally recognized organizations to upgrade terminal amenities and ordered formal customer service training for personnel handling travelers. The prime minister highlighted the necessity for better cooperation between various agencies stationed at terminals and insisted that traveler ease must be the main focus. He additionally instructed officials to bring in top-tier catering providers, stating that food standards at terminals will not be lowered. Participants reviewed the master layouts for Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and Lahore Airport, alongside their building schedules.
Shehbaz instructed officials to guarantee that building work aligns with global benchmarks and that all tasks finish inside the designated timeframes. Attendees additionally received updates regarding current construction and modernization efforts by the Civil Aviation Authority across domestic facilities. Officials reported that runway extension work at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi is finished.
Airport Services and Connectivity Improvements
Officials stated that the Civil Aviation Authority opened 14 terminals for domestic flights during the preceding year. The Federal Investigation Agency expanded its personnel and service counters to assist travelers, according to representatives. Installation of automated border control technology, such as electronic gates, is progressing at large terminals. Concurrently, an air freight village is being constructed to turn Karachi into a cargo center. Representatives also updated the gathering regarding a newly introduced meet-and-greet offering at Islamabad International Airport to aid travelers. The Federal Investigation Agency set up pre-departure counters at major terminals to offer prompt advice to passengers.
Aviation University Planned in Hyderabad
Attendees also learned that the current aviation facility in Hyderabad is being transformed into a global-standard aviation university. Construction on this initiative is scheduled to kick off by February 2028. Participants included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Dr. Musadik Malik, Ahsan Khan Cheema, and Attaullah Tarar, Prime Minister Adviser Muhammad Ali, National Assembly Members Raja Usama Sarwar and Ali Zahid, Prime Minister Coordinator Sardar Yasir Ilyas, and other senior personnel.
