The PML-N led federal government’s decision to outsource three major airports in Pakistan has divided public opinion on social media.
The federal government on Friday planned to outsource three international airports including Karachi’s Jinnah, Lahore’s Allama Iqbal, and Islamabad’s international airport.
While reacting to the government’s plan of outsourcing the airports, some netizens took it as another loss for Pakistan, accusing the incumbent government of being incompetent and having poor governance.
Read more: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar heckled at airport in USA
“Is this government capable of doing anything right? Are there no capable people left in Pakistan? This is a shame and disgrace,” one netizen wrote.
Is this #ImportedGoverment capable of doing anything right?
Are there no capable people left in Pakistan?
This is a shame & disgrace 😔 https://t.co/vrMFemjZmh— Ali Mirza (@Ali4omNY) December 30, 2022
We are outsourcing three airports. Let’s outsource Defence, Judiciary everything will be fine once Judiciary and Defence are professionally managed.
— Javaid A Malik (@javaid_malik1) December 31, 2022
“The government is going to outsource Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad airports for the next 20-25 years to attract foreign investment. I don’t see the day very far when the government will outsource itself to foreign politicians,” another Twitter user said.
The government is going to outsource Lahore,Karachi and Islamabad airport for the next 20-25 years to attract foreign investment.
I don't see the day very far when the government will outsource itself to foreign politicians.— Ali Hamza (@iamAlihumza) December 31, 2022
On the other hand, the decision was also appreciated by some netizens, for instance, journalist Ahmed Quraishi said that the decision to outsource three international airports to global investors is a good move.
… and #Pakistan and the #US were cooperating in space.
This is why the decision to outsource three international airports today to global investors is a good move but too insignificant for a nation that embraced a bigger role in region and world.
/3https://t.co/r9k1xO2fxf— Ahmed Quraishi (@_AhmedQuraishi) December 30, 2022
“Effective decision to outsource airports, but small inroads unless PIA has been restructured, liquidated or at least outsourced. Tough times tough decisions,” one netizen said.
Effective decision to outsource airports, but small inroads unless PIA been restructured, liquidated or least outsourced. Tough times tough decisions, step up!!@ANPMarkaz @PakPMO @PIADesk @Peshawarpeshaw1
— Arbab Usman (@UsmanArbab1) December 30, 2022
Govt plans to outsource airports
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while presiding over the session on aviation and Pakistan International Airline (PIA) affairs, directed to initiate the process of outsourcing under public-private partnership.
In April 2017, the then prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had approved the policy to outsource the management of the country’s three main airports. On Friday, PM Shehbaz gave a go-ahead for the outsourcing of Jinnah International Airport Karachi, Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore, and Islamabad International Airport under the public-private partnership.
Read more: Islamabad, Karachi airports to be administered by Qatari companies
The PM also formed a committee comprising Federal Minister for aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique and federal secretary for aviation, Federal Minister for planning and development Ahsan Iqbal, and Federal Law minister Azam Nazir Tarar to overlook the process.
وزیراعظم شہبازشریف کی زیرصدارت اجلاس
براہ راست غیرملکی سرمایہ کاری کی راہ ہموارکرنےکیلئےبڑا فیصلہکراچی ،اسلام آباداورلاھور کے ائر پورٹس چلانے کیلئےبین الاقوامی ساکھ کےحامل انٹرنیشنل آپریٹرز کی خدمات حاصل کی جائینگی
آپریشنز سپرد کرنیکا دورانیہ20 برس کےلگ بھگ ھوگا pic.twitter.com/I2vqLv6h2x
— Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) December 30, 2022
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif said that under the outsourcing process all relevant departments should take the required steps efficiently, adding that transparency must be ensured during the exercise.
The meeting was informed that outsourcing of airports is a “normal profit-seeking practice” throughout the world.