Govt plans to handover Islamabad airport to UAE without bidding process: report

The federal government has decided to forgo the open bidding process for outsourcing operations at Islamabad International Airport and instead pursue a government-to-government (G2G) agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to media reports.

According to officials, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Defence, and the Aviation Division have been instructed to jointly develop a detailed framework for the agreement. This framework will be shared with UAE authorities after obtaining formal approval from the federal cabinet and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The decision marks a shift from the previously considered open bidding model. Officials believe that direct negotiations under the G2G mode will allow for faster implementation and align better with the government's ongoing economic reform agenda.

Islamabad International Airport is among at least seven state-owned enterprises that the government intends to privatise during the current financial year. Other entities on the list include Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), First Women Bank, and the House Building Finance Corporation.

Final decisions are expected in the coming months, pending input from both domestic and international stakeholders.