The Privatisation Commission Board has appointed the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as the financial adviser for outsourcing the operations of Islamabad International Airport.
During its 255th meeting, which was chaired by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation, Muhammad Ali, the Board approved the signing of a Transaction Advisory Services Agreement with the multilateral bank. The Board expressed confidence that the ADB would execute the transaction in a timely, competitive, and transparent manner.
Under this long-term concession framework, the airport will be handed over to a qualified private operator through an open and competitive bidding process. The initiative aims to enhance passenger experiences, improve overall operational performance, and align the facilities with international benchmarks. The decision follows the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), after which the government designated the Islamabad airport as a priority for outsourcing.
The move to open bidding comes after the government shelved an earlier plan to outsource the airport to the UAE, a decision prompted by Abu Dhabi’s repeated delays in nominating an entity, which eventually led to a loss of interest. The Secretary of the Ministry of Privatisation previously informed the Senate Standing Committee that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Türkiye have expressed interest in the project. The management rights will be awarded to / whichever firm or country submits the highest bid, with the operations of Karachi and Lahore airports slated for outsourcing next.
This airport project is part of a broader acceleration of the state privatisation program. According to the Privatisation Commission Secretary, Usman Bajwa, 24 state-owned entities are listed for privatisation this year, including the three major airports, five electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), and two generation companies (GENCOs). In a separate decision during the same meeting, the Board approved appointing BDO Ibrahim and Company Chartered Accountants as external auditors for a three-year term spanning from 2025–26 to 2027–28.
