Pakistan set to install e-gates at airports to speed up immigration processing

ISLAMABAD – The authorities are planning a major upgrade in air travel within Pakistan as cutting-edge ‘e-gates’ at key airports are being installed.

Reliable sources have revealed that Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport, and Islamabad International Airport are all set to see the installation of these state-of-the-art e-gates, aiming to revolutionize the immigration process, ensuring passengers experience efficient and expedited clearance.

Efforts have already commenced with airport authorities initiating the installation process at the specified terminals and discussions between the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and a prominent United Arab Emirates-based company have laid the groundwork for the installation.

The key advantage of these ‘e-gates’ is their ability to provide travelers with a seamless alternative to the traditional long queues associated with immigration processes. However, travelers must possess an e-passport to avail themselves of this advanced facility.

This move towards enhanced airport technology follows the recent installation of a latest-generation baggage scanning machine at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. The installation of the scanning machine aims to save travelers’ time, particularly for those heading to the UK and other Western countries, where hold baggage typically undergoes a second scan after the boarding card is issued.

Pakistan’s focus on airport modernization is part of a larger strategy to improve services and enhance the overall travel experience for passengers. The previous regime of the Pakistan Democratic Movement had announced plans to outsource Islamabad’s airport for a 12-year period, with similar considerations for airports in Lahore and Islamabad, aiming to elevate service delivery and enhance the overall travel experience.

The Islamabad airport has not been outsourced as of now though the plans are underway. Moreover, Pakistan has also amended its Civil Aviation laws to split the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) into two separate entities.