Govt to outsource eight airports, Senate told

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has decided to caaru out a phase-wise outsourcing of eight airports, advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation Farhat Hussain Shah told the Senate on Tuesday.

Shah stated that Pakistan had earlier announced to outsource Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi airports, but has now added 5 more airports to the list. He said the process will take place in phase-wise manner, through open bidding.

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Earlier, the Aircraft Owners and Operators Association of Pakistan (PAOOA) opposed the coalition government’s “unilateral” decision to outsource the country’s top airports without following the PPRA rules.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved the draft Transaction Advisory Agreement reached with the International Finance Corporation for outsourcing of three airports.

The ECC was informed that the outsourcing of three airports has been initiated within the scope of the Public-Private Partnership Act-2017 to engage private investors through a competitive and transparent process to run the airports, develop appertaining land assets and enhance avenues for commercial activities and garner full revenue potential. – INP