Delays at immigration clearance: Govt vows action to resolve issues facing Karachi airport

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Tuesday assured the National Assembly that serious steps would be taken to address the problems faced by passengers at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.

The issue was raised by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Shazia Marri under a matter of urgent public importance. She said the country’s busiest airport was facing severe mismanagement, with passengers enduring long delays at immigration clearance. She added that trolleys were often unavailable, contributing to congestion and inconvenience.

Several lawmakers echoed these concerns.

Shabbir Bijarani highlighted that passengers were struggling to find trolleys, while porters demanded money, and overcrowding at immigration counters caused some travellers to miss their flights.

Sehar Kamran said she had already submitted a formal notice on the issue, stressing the need for immediate solutions and clarity on the off-loading policy.

Ijaz Jakhrani noted that travellers were forced to wait for hours at Karachi Airport, adding that Islamabad Airport was facing similar conditions and required urgent attention.

Federal Minister Aminul Haq criticized the performance of the Civil Aviation Authority, stating that no significant expansion had taken place at Karachi Airport in the past 36 years. He pointed to poor sanitation, long queues at immigration counters, and urged the need for infrastructure upgrades. He urged authorities to modernize the immigration system.

MNA Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said the problems at the airport were steadily increasing, and that even passengers with valid documents were facing unnecessary difficulties due to strict clearance measures.

Responding to the debate, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry acknowledged the economic importance of Karachi Airport and said all highlighted issues would be conveyed to the relevant departments. He added that the government was exploring running several airports on a public-private partnership basis, with discussions underway with the United Arab Emirates. He said improved management would help enhance passenger facilities.

Deputy Speaker National Assembly Ghulam Mustafa Shah referred the matter to the government assurances committee for further deliberation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026