The Lahore and Karachi airport expansion has received the formal approval of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who on Thursday cleared the enlargement of Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore and Jinnah International Airport in Karachi in order to improve facilities for travellers. The decision was taken at a meeting in Islamabad attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Khawaja Asif, Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema and Attaullah Tarar, and other senior officials, according to Dawn.
What the meeting reviewed
An official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said participants were briefed on a recent survey by an international firm that assessed the quality of travel facilities at major airports. They were also given details of the master plans for the Lahore and Karachi airports, including the planning and construction of the expansion under those plans and the timeframe set for completion.
The prime minister told the meeting that the projects should be aligned with international standards and that third-party validation must be ensured. He added that no compromise would be made on the quality of the work.
What the Lahore and Karachi airport expansion involves
The master plans form the basis of the approved projects, though the official statement as reported did not spell out costs or completion dates for the new phases. Some earlier figures are available from the aviation authority. As reported by Business Recorder, the authority has described a Rs43 billion terminal expansion at the Lahore airport that was expected to finish this year, alongside a separate Rs19 billion airside paving project targeted for January 2029.
It also flagged a much larger final expansion plan for the Lahore airport, estimated at between Rs125 billion and Rs140 billion, which it said would take roughly four years once awarded. These figures come from the authority’s earlier disclosures and may differ from the plans reviewed on Thursday.
In Karachi, officials told the meeting that the expansion of the runway at Jinnah International Airport had already been completed. Earlier reports said the reconstructed main runway was commissioned in early 2026 and is capable of handling the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
Border technology and a cargo push
The meeting was informed that work on automated border management systems, known as e-gates, is under way at major airports. The measure is intended to shorten immigration queues and bring Pakistan’s airports closer to the practice at regional hubs.
Officials also said that work is continuing on an air cargo village, with the aim of turning Karachi into an air cargo hub. The Business Recorder report put the cost of the Karachi cargo village at Rs10.09 billion. A well-developed cargo facility could strengthen the city’s role in trade and logistics, an area in which the port city already holds a central position for sea freight.
Directions on service quality
Beyond infrastructure, the prime minister gave a series of instructions on the passenger experience. He directed that facilities be upgraded to international standards and asked the officials concerned to obtain the services of internationally renowned firms for the task. He stressed regular training in high-quality service delivery for officers and staff at airports, along with better coordination among the various agencies that operate within them.
On catering, the statement quoted him as saying that the best caterers should be engaged for passengers at airports and that there should be no compromise on the quality of food and beverages.
Wider upgrades and training
The meeting heard that the Civil Aviation Authority is upgrading several airports across the country and carrying out ongoing development work. The Federal Investigation Agency has increased staff and counters at airports for passengers’ convenience and has set up pre-departure desks at major airports. Officials also said an existing aviation institution in Hyderabad is being further improved to create an aviation university of international standard, with work due to start by February 2028.
What to watch next
The approval clears the way for implementation, but the details that matter most to passengers, including timelines, funding arrangements and the identity of the third-party validators, have yet to be publicly set out. How quickly the Lahore and Karachi airport expansion moves from plans to construction will determine whether the improvements promised on Thursday translate into shorter queues, better terminals and a stronger cargo network.
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