Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar underscored the imperative of enhancing economic diplomacy and strengthening trade and investment ties with foreign nations during an online meeting on Saturday. The meeting, chaired by the foreign minister, aimed to review the progress of market-sounding efforts facilitated by Pakistan’s Missions Abroad for the outsourcing of airports, according to a press release.
The meeting witnessed the participation of Heads of Missions from various countries, including Turkiye, Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, Paris, Spain, Germany, Kuwait, UK, and Switzerland. The concerted efforts of these missions have reignited the interest of prominent airport operators in bidding for projects such as the Islamabad International Airport.
The involvement of foreign airport operators signals both economic stability and investor confidence in Pakistan’s political landscape. Following this discussion, the 9th Meeting of the Steering Committee on Outsourcing of Airports convened, with key stakeholders in attendance, including officials from the aviation sector, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Board of Investment, ASF, ANF, FIA, Pakistan Customs, and the IFC Team.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) presented a progress review report, indicating a substantial interest from foreign investors in the bidding process for Islamabad International Airport. Moreover, healthy competition is anticipated, reflecting positively on the attractiveness of investment opportunities in Pakistan.
The meeting also scrutinized Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service delivery benchmarks formulated by international consultants to enhance airport services’ quality. Government agencies committed to ensuring adherence to these benchmarks to ensure a seamless passenger experience.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged the IFC to expedite tasks within the stipulated timeframe for the outsourcing of Lahore and Karachi airports, emphasizing the significance of timely completion for these crucial projects.
