Islamabad airport will be outsourced for 15 years: Saad Rafique

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Aviation and Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday stated that the government has decided to outsource new Islamabad International Airport for 15 years.

Islamabad Airport was the first to be affected when Pakistan began outsourcing operations at three major airports in March as part of efforts to build up foreign exchange reserves for its faltering economy.

Speaking to the National Assembly, Khawaja Saad Rafique stated that it has been unanimously decided to move on with the outsourcing of operations at the Islamabad airport in order to enhance service delivery and be consistent with best practices in the sector.

He added that the second phase of outsourcing would involve Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and the Allama Iqbal International airport in Lahore. "Islamabad will be Pakistan's first airport which will be outsourced in first phase," he said.

The aviation department's reported downsizing was categorically denied by the minister, who also made it clear that no CAA employees will lose their jobs as a result of the reorganization efforts.

The minister emphasized the urgent need for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to be restructured once more in order to address the airline's huge deficit, which remained at Rs. 80 billion this year.

He expressed a warning that the national flag carrier would be forced to cease operations in the coming days if significant reforms are not implemented.

Earlier today, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) considering to resume flights to Britain in the next three months, Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Friday. 

Saad announced the statement in front of lawmakers, claiming that this week's passage of new legislation had eliminated the final barrier to the national airline's flight to the UK.

"God willing, the PIA flights will resume at least to the UK in three months, and, later, flights to Europe and America will resume," he stated.

PIA to resume flights for UK in next three months.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) terminated PIA's licence to fly to the EU in 2020 as a result of a fake pilot controversy in the South Asian country, which led to the suspension of the airline's flights to Europe and England.