ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday Pakistan wanted to improve passenger facilities at airports across the country and was considering outsourcing some services, during a meeting with a delegation from Istanbul Grand Airport.
Sharif’s administration during its previous tenure developed plans to improve the management of its airports by potentially allowing foreign companies to run them. The initiative was billed as part of its efforts to enhance efficiency, upgrade facilities and boost the aviation industry’s contribution to the national economy.
The idea was also to bring in international expertise and investment through public-private partnerships or outright management contracts to operate and develop the country’s airfields.
“We are taking steps to enhance and improve the facilities available for passengers at the airports in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore,” a statement issued by his office quoted him as saying during the meeting.
“Pakistan is the first to offer outsourcing some commercial operations of Islamabad International Airport under public-private partnership,” he continued, adding: “Transparency will be our top priority in all phases of airport outsourcing.”
The prime minister told the delegation the country was rapidly moving toward economic stability and would welcome businesspeople and investors from around the world.
“We are particularly keen to promote investment and partnership with our brotherly nation of Turkiye,” he added.
Sharif also highlighted the “significant potential” for investment and partnerships in the urban development sector of Pakistan.
“Now is the appropriate time to enhance business partnerships between the two countries,” he emphasized.
The Turkish delegation said it was deeply interested in exploring investment and partnership opportunities in Pakistan.
The meeting was also attended by senior members of Turkiye’s diplomatic mission in the country along with Pakistan’s defense and aviation minister Khawaja Asif and other senior officials.
Pakistan eyes airport service boost, mulls outsourcing in talks with Turkish delegation
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Pakistan eyes airport service boost, mulls outsourcing in talks with Turkish delegation
- PM Sharif says Pakistan has offered outsourcing of some commercial operations at the Islamabad airport
- He highlights ‘significant’ investment and partnership potential in the country’s urban development sector
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
