{"id":7865,"date":"2026-10-29T12:32:41","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T12:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldwatchalert.com\/?p=7865"},"modified":"2026-10-29T12:32:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T12:32:41","slug":"pm-shehbaz-approves-expansion-of-lahore-and-karachi-airports-calls-for-international-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldwatchalert.com\/?p=7865","title":{"rendered":"PM Shehbaz Approves Expansion of Lahore and Karachi Airports, Calls for International Standards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Islamabad:<\/strong> Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the expansion of Lahore and Karachi airports under their respective master plans, directing authorities to complete the projects within stipulated timelines and ensure that construction quality is not compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The directives were issued during a meeting chaired by the prime minister in Islamabad to review airport expansion, infrastructure upgrades and measures to improve passenger facilities at major airports across Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shehbaz Sharif called for airport services to be upgraded in line with international standards. He also directed authorities to ensure third-party validation of reforms aimed at improving expansion projects and passenger services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prime minister stressed the need to engage internationally recognised organisations to improve airport facilities and provide regular, high-quality service-delivery training to officers and staff responsible for assisting passengers. He also called for better coordination among agencies operating at airports and emphasised that passenger convenience must remain a priority. He directed authorities to engage quality catering providers and maintain high food standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the meeting, officials briefed the participants on a recently completed survey by an international firm assessing service standards at major airports. They also provided updates on the expansion plans for Karachi and Lahore airports and ongoing development and upgrading projects being undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials informed the meeting that the runway expansion at Karachi&#8217;s Jinnah International Airport had been completed. The meeting also reviewed the master plans for Karachi and Lahore airports, including their proposed expansion schedules and construction timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The meeting was further informed that the Civil Aviation Authority had made 14 airports operational over the past year to facilitate the restoration of domestic flights. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also increased staffing levels and the number of counters to improve passenger facilitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Work is progressing on the installation of automated border-management systems, known as e-gates, at major airports. In addition, a dedicated air cargo village is being developed to establish Karachi as an air cargo hub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials said a meet-and-greet service had been introduced at Islamabad International Airport to assist passengers. The FIA has also established pre-departure desks at major airports to provide timely guidance to travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The meeting was also briefed on plans to upgrade the existing aviation institution in Hyderabad into an internationally standardised aviation university. Work on the project is expected to begin by February 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Dr Musadik Malik, Ahsan Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials attended the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the expansion of Lahore and Karachi airports under their respective master plans, directing authorities to complete the projects within stipulated timelines and ensure&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[33],"class_list":["post-7865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","tag-shehbaz-sharif"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - 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