Islamabad Airport Operations to Be Handed Over to UAE

In a significant move to incorporate international partnerships for managing key state-owned assets, the government has opted to transfer operational control of Islamabad International Airport to the United Arab Emirates.

This resolution was reached during a Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions (CCoIGCT) assembly on Thursday, presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.

Sources have verified the airport’s handover will occur under a government-to-government framework agreement.

A specially formed negotiation committee, guided by the prime minister’s adviser for privatisation, will decide on the final conditions in collaboration with insights from the defence, finance, law, and privatization ministries.

This initiative highlights Pakistan’s commitment to seeking international collaborations aimed at modernizing infrastructure and boosting the effectiveness of underperforming state-owned enterprises.

The administration has already signaled intentions to delegate the management responsibilities of major airports to global operators as part of comprehensive privatization strategies and investment reforms linked to its economic revitalization plan.

Islamabad International Airport, which commenced operations in 2018, has been grappling with both operational and financial hurdles. Authorities suggest that assigning management through a G2G agreement with the UAE will lead to enhanced service standards, operational proficiency, and increased assurance for investors.

The meeting saw the participation of the petroleum minister, the prime minister’s adviser on privatisation, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, along with federal secretaries, and high-ranking officials from associated ministries.