ISLAMABAD – The federal government has decided to privatise the three important airports of Pakistan, as Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has released an advertisement to hand over the administrative and operational matters of the airports to private companies.
Sources said that privatization was being carried out under the new policy of CAA, adding that Jinnah International Airport Karachi, Allama Iqbal International airport and the new Islamabad International airport will be privatised.
The process was implemented after the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and federal cabinet, the sources said, adding that there was no need to get it approved from Parliament.
However, critics are of the view that executive orders of PM to enforce the aviation policy without any legislation could be challenged in the courts.
On the other hand, joint secretary aviation division and deputy secretary law, who opposed the privatisation of the airports during a meeting with the premier, have been demoted to officer on special duty (OSD).
After these airports, the CAA will have small and non-profit airports under its authority, in addition to other departments as all operations, including take-off and landing of airplanes are now being outsourced.
The CAA is one of the profitable organistions of Pakistan that earns around Rs 50 billion in a year.
