The federal government has decided to transfer the management of Islamabad International Airport to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a significant move in the Centre’s strategy to involve foreign partners in running key state-owned assets.
The decision was made on Thursday during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions (CCoIGCT), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, as reported by The News on Friday. Officials have confirmed that the airport will be handed over under a government-to-government (G2G) framework agreement.
A negotiation committee, led by the prime minister’s adviser on privatization, will finalize the terms with input from the defense, finance, law, and privatization ministries. This action highlights Pakistan’s efforts to attract foreign partners to upgrade its infrastructure and boost efficiency in state assets that are currently operating at a loss.
The government has previously indicated its intention to outsource the operations of major airports to international operators as part of broader privatization and investment reforms linked to its economic revival strategy. Islamabad International Airport, which opened in 2018, has faced operational and financial difficulties. Officials state that outsourcing its management through a G2G arrangement with the UAE will ensure higher service standards, specialized operational expertise, and greater investor confidence.
The meeting was attended by the petroleum minister, the prime minister’s adviser on privatization, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries, and senior officials from relevant ministries.
