mm-news-@dmin The move comes as Pakistan attract foreign partners, with Islamabad Airport operations UAE seen as a step to improve efficiency at loss-making state assets.
- Cabinet committee approves airport deal under G2G framework.
- Privatisation adviser to lead terms finalisation with ministries.
- Attract foreign partners to upgrade Pakistan’s infrastructure.
The federal government has therefore decided to hand over the operations of Islamabad International Airport. To the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Marking a major step in the Centre’s plan to bring in foreign partners to manage key state-run assets.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions (CCoIGCT), which made the decision on Thursday. Subsequently, The News covered it in its Friday report.
Moreover, officials confirmed that the government will hand over the airport under a government-to-government (G2G) framework agreement.
In addition, a negotiation committee led by the prime minister’s adviser on privatisation will finalise terms, with input from the defence, finance, law, and privatisation ministries.
The move further underscores Pakistan’s efforts to attract foreign partners to upgrade infrastructure and improve efficiency at loss-making state assets.
Earlier, the government had already indicated plans to outsource operations of major airports to international operators as part of broader privatisation and investment reforms tied to its economic revival strategy.
Islamabad International Airport, which was inaugurated in 2018, has faced operational and financial challenges. Therefore, officials say outsourcing management through a G2G arrangement with the UAE will ensure higher service standards, operational expertise, and greater investor confidence.
Finally, the petroleum minister and the prime minister’s adviser on privatisation attended the meeting, while Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries, and senior officials from relevant ministries were also present.
