The government has shelved a plan to outsource the management and operations of Islamabad International Airport to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after Abu Dhabi lost interest in the process, a private media outlet has claimed.
Reports quoted sources as saying that the two countries reached a deadlock after the UAE repeatedly delayed nominating an entity to manage the airport.
Sources told the media outlet that despite initial interest shown by the UAE, it failed to communicate the name of the nominated entity, indicating disinterest on the part of Abu Dhabi.
They said the Pakistani side had sought a clear response by sending a final call letter, to which the UAE responded that it was unable to confirm any nominated entity and was not interested in continuing the process.
The government has now approved a proposal to include Islamabad International Airport in the active privatisation list, following the recent successful privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
However, the decision has drawn strong reactions online. While some users criticised the UAE’s involvement, arguing that it had caused harm to Pakistan’s port cities and had been linked to controversial funding activities, others interpreted the move as Pakistan formally siding with Saudi Arabia.
“Pakistan has ended the UAE’s role in operating Islamabad International Airport another blow to the UAE and its failed investments,” one person wrote, while another asked, “What was UAE doing at Islamabad airport anyway?”
Some reactions were sharper, with users expressing frustration over repeated delays. “I guess Pakistan finally figured out that Abu Dhabi can’t be trusted!” one post read, while another said, “If cancelling agreements was an Olympic sport…”
A particularly critical comment described the situation as “a pathetic little tapestry woven from desperation”.
Earlier, the government did not accede to the UAE’s request for inclusion of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, in the draft government-to-government framework agreement.
Requests regarding the privatisation of the air link between Abu Dhabi and Pakistan were also not backed by the government.