PM Shehbaz approves expansion of Lahore and Karachi airports

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the expansion of Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, under each airport’s master plan.

The decision was taken at a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, 29 October, chaired by the prime minister to review airport development and passenger facilities, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Sharif directed the authorities concerned to complete both projects within the stipulated timelines and to international standards, stressing that there would be no compromise on the quality of construction. He also ordered independent third-party validation of the reforms to upgrade airport infrastructure and services, and said passenger convenience must remain the top priority at airports across the country.

Officials told the meeting that the runway expansion at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport had already been completed. Work is also under way on an air cargo village aimed at turning Karachi into a major air cargo hub, and on automated border management systems, including e-gates, at major airports.

The Civil Aviation Authority has reactivated 14 airports for domestic flights over the past year, officials said. The Federal Investigation Agency has also increased staffing and the number of counters at airports, and a meet-and-greet service has been launched at Islamabad airport.

The meeting was also told that an existing aviation institution in Hyderabad is to be upgraded into an international-standard aviation university, with work scheduled to begin by February 2028.

Why it matters

Lahore and Karachi are Pakistan’s two busiest international gateways, so expanding them should ease crowding, cut queues and improve the experience for passengers and for exporters using air cargo. The emphasis on third-party checks and international standards also signals that the government wants the work judged against global benchmarks, not just local ones.

What happens next

The government has not yet announced the cost, the added passenger capacity or the completion dates for the two expansion projects. The next steps to watch are the publication of the detailed master plans and timelines, the start of construction work, and progress on the Karachi cargo village and the e-gates rollout.

Sources

• https://leadpakistan.com.pk/news/pm-approves-expansion-of-karachi-lahore-airports/ (Lead Pakistan, 30 October 2026)
• https://bloompakistan.com/pm-shehbaz-approves-expansion-lahore-karachi-airports/ (Bloom Pakistan, 29 October 2026)
• https://thestandard.com.pk/p-m-sharif-approves-expansion-of-lahore-karachi-airports/ (The Standard, 30 October 2026)

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.