The federal government has decided to hand over operations of Islamabad International Airport to the United Arab Emirates, aiming to bring in foreign partners to manage key state-run assets efficiently.
The decision was finalised on Thursday during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, with officials confirming a government-to-government framework agreement.
A negotiation committee, led by the prime minister’s adviser on privatisation, will finalise the terms, coordinating with defence, finance, law, and privatisation ministries to ensure smooth handover and operational efficiency.
Officials said this move is part of Pakistan’s broader plan to attract foreign partners to upgrade infrastructure, improve service standards, and make loss-making state assets more financially viable and investor-friendly.
Islamabad International Airport, inaugurated in 2018, has faced operational and financial challenges. Outsourcing management to the UAE under a G2G arrangement is expected to bring expertise, enhance performance, and raise passenger confidence.
The cabinet meeting was attended by the petroleum minister, privatisation adviser, Special Assistant Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries, and senior officials from relevant ministries, all highlighting the government’s focus on economic revival through strategic partnerships.