Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved expansion plans for the airports in Lahore and Karachi, telling officials that passenger convenience must come first and that the work should be finished on schedule and to international standards.

The decision was taken at a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday to review airport development and the steps being taken to improve services for travellers. According to an official statement from the meeting, the prime minister directed that construction quality be protected and that expansion projects and service reforms be checked through independent third-party assessments.

Service quality and staff training

Mr Sharif also called for internationally recognised organisations to be brought in to help raise airport service standards, and for regular training for officers and staff who assist passengers. He stressed better coordination between airport agencies to reduce difficulties for travellers.

Food and drink at airports was also on the agenda, with the prime minister calling for reputable catering companies to be engaged and for quality to be maintained.

Karachi runway and other projects

Officials told the meeting that runway expansion work at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport has been completed. The Civil Aviation Authority has reactivated 14 airports for domestic flights over the past year, according to the briefing.

Work is also progressing on automated border management systems, including e-gates, at major airports, aimed at speeding up passenger processing. Authorities are developing an air cargo village as part of an effort to establish Karachi as a regional air cargo hub.

A meet-and-greet service has been introduced at Islamabad International Airport, and the Federal Investigation Agency has set up pre-departure desks at major airports. Separately, an aviation institution in Hyderabad is to be upgraded into an international-standard aviation university, with work expected to begin by February 2028.

Sources: The Pakistan Today, The Daily CPEC