KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has once again extended the tender deadline for outsourcing Islamabad Airport.
According to the details, the government aims to raise funds through outsourcing airport services, leading to the deadline being pushed back by two months to July 15, as stated by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The CAA noted that companies from Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and other countries have shown interest in the project. The tender was initially announced by the CAA in March, with an original deadline of May 15, which has now been extended.
The decision to extend the tender deadline resulted from a lack of sufficient interest from bidders in the airport outsourcing project. Previously, the federal government issued tenders to seek applications for outsourcing Islamabad International Airport for 15 years.
According to the CAA, interested bidders were required to submit their applications along with a Rs5,000 fee by November 8. It is noteworthy that the government has also decided to outsource Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad International Airports.
Following this decision, the Employee Unions of the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan (CAA) strongly opposed the move to outsource Pakistan’s airports.
Union officials reiterated their longstanding opposition to the outsourcing proposal, which dates back to 2016, emphasizing the negative impact such a move would have on the country’s interests and the integrity of the institution.
Moreover, industry experts have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the outsourcing process, urging the government to ensure that the selection of foreign operators adheres to international standards and best practices. This move aims to enhance airport services and management, but it continues to face significant scrutiny and opposition from various stakeholders.
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