Islamabad airport will be outsourced for 15 years: Saad Rafique

Khawaja Saad Rafique, Federal Minister for Aviation and Railways, announced on Friday that the government has agreed to outsource New Islamabad International Airport for 15 years.

Pakistan began outsourcing operations at three major airports in March, with Islamabad airport being the first to be affected, as the country strives to earn foreign cash reserves for its weak economy.

Khawaja Saad Rafique told the National Assembly that it had been unanimously agreed to outsource operations at Islamabad airport in order to improve service delivery in line with best industry practices.

“Islamabad will be Pakistan’s first outsourced airport in the first phase,” he added, adding that Jinnah International Airport Karachi and Lahore Airport would be outsourced in the second phase.

The minister categorically denied speculations of downsizing within the aviation department and stated that no CAA employee will be laid off as a result of the reorganization efforts.

The minister emphasized the critical necessity to restructure Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in order to address its huge deficit, which remained at Rs. 80 billion this year.

He cautioned that if rapid reforms are not implemented, the deficit will worsen in the next days, resulting in the shutdown of the national flag carrier.

Saad Rafique further told the lower house that PIA will resume its flights to the United Kingdom (UK) in the next three months.

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