Islamabad: The federal government has decided to hand over the operationsof Islamabad International Airport to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) undera government-to-government (G2G) model.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee onInter-Governmental Commercial Transactions, chaired by the Deputy PrimeMinister. According to the official statement, a dedicated negotiation teamhas been formed to finalize the terms of the agreement with the UAE. Theteam will be led by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatization, withrepresentatives from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, Ministryof Law and Justice, and Ministry of Privatization included as members.
Officials stated that the move is part of Pakistan’s broader economicrecovery strategy, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of state-ownedenterprises by involving foreign partners, reducing financial losses, andimproving services. The government is also considering outsourcingoperations of other major airports in the country.
Since its inauguration in 2018, Islamabad International Airport hasstruggled with financial difficulties and administrative challenges.Authorities believe that partnering with the UAE under the G2G model willintroduce global expertise, improve passenger facilities, and restoreinvestor confidence in Pakistan’s aviation sector.
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The meeting was attended by the Minister for Petroleum, Special Assistantto the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries, and seniorofficials from relevant ministries.