Govt Focuses on Outsourcing Major Airports and Expediting Rs29 Billion G2G Projects

Islamabad: Pakistan’s government is stepping up efforts to outsource airports in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, while also completing numerous key government-to-government (G2G) contracts for Rs29 billion. These efforts, carried out in partnership with allied countries including as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Azerbaijan, aim to show tangible results from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

To speed progress, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal presided over a review conference of the Public-Private Partnership Authority (P3A) to assess the implementation of 13 orders given by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. These directions highlight the completion of critical public interest projects now overseen by the SIFC, a civil-military forum intended to improve government efficiency and attract foreign investment from key partners.

The minister directed the SIFC secretary to create a targeted agenda reviewing the dates of projects agreed with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Azerbaijan totaling Rs29 billion. Early the following week another meeting will be scheduled to eliminate irritants and enable quick project execution.

The minister ordered the creation of a special committee under P3A to simplify inter-ministerial collaboration and guarantee timely project execution by means of defining actionable timetables for the pipeline projects.

“Foreign investment can be efficiently harnessed by developing bankable commercial propositions targeted at export expansion, which will significantly benefit Pakistan. The strategic mission of SIFC must be achieved in its true spirit,” the minister stated.

Officials from several departments gave reports on the state of every project. The Ministry of Aviation was instructed to hasten the outsourcing process for Karachi, Lahore, and airports serving Islamabad.

Due diligence reports for Lahore and Karachi airports have been sent to P3A; a senior official of the aviation ministry said the Technical Evaluation Committee of the Pakistan Airports Authority was presently reviewing bids for Islamabad airport.