ISLAMABAD: The federal government is likely to outsource the management of three major airports of the country, it was learnt on Monday.
Sources informed this scribe that the federal cabinet, in its meeting on Tuesday, would take up six agendas including the outsourcing of major airports of Pakistan.
The Aviation Division has proposed to outsource the management of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi airports owing to their miserable conditions, especially at international terminals.
Sources claimed that the management outsourcing would improve the facilities at international terminals, which are necessary to promote tourism, investment, as well as the overall image of the country. The ministry has also proposed separating the regulatory structure for the aviation industry, management, and landing functions under the new aviation policy, they added.
Presently, only one local (private) company is running the affairs of Sialkot International Airport, while all other airports are being looked after by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Sources said that the government could outsource some of the airports’ work to an Arab country, as earlier there were proposals to outsource some specific affairs to UAE or Qatar.
In addition to this, the cabinet would also take an issue pertaining to the appointment of the Securities and Exchange Policy Board chairman. The finance ministry has proposed the name of Masood Naqvi for the post.
It is pertinent to mention that former chairman SECP policy board Khalid Mirza had resigned from the said position during the first week of this month. The government had earlier removed him from the slot but had he moved court against the order.
Meanwhile, the cabinet would also discuss the Ministry of Finance’s agenda with regard to the custody and operation of the Federal Consolidated Fund and Public Account.
Also, the Ministry of Water Resources would brief the cabinet on real time water flow measurement through telemetry monitoring by Indus River System Authority.
Similarly, cabinet would take up health ministry’s summary regarding the nomination of board members under Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Act.
