Pakistan's large number of airports and landing strips not operational
Pakistan has a total of 151 airports, airstrips
and landing facilities of varying sizes, though only a small proportion remains
operational, according to official data.
Reports indicate that just 10 airports are
currently classified as active international gateways. Karachi, Lahore,
Islamabad, Multan, Sialkot, Peshawar, Faisalabad and Quetta are considered
fully functional. However, despite holding international status, New Gwadar,
Skardu and New Mirpur airports are not yet operating international flights.
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airports across Pakistan cost millions to tax payers
Even major hubs such as Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad receive limited foreign flight movements compared to airports in countries of similar size, where both domestic and international traffic is significantly higher.
Pakistan also has 43 domestic-level airports,
while the remaining 98 facilities consist of small airstrips, landing strips or
military aviation sites.
Airports Transition to
Cashless System
In October, the Pakistan Airport Authority
(PAA) launched a nationwide initiative to make all airports fully cashless. The
move allows passengers and staff to access services without using physical
currency.
In partnership with the State Bank of
Pakistan, QR codes will be deployed across all airports to enable digital
payments, while shops and vendors are being shifted to cashless systems.
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Airports Authority says all airports of the country are operational
The first phase covers airports in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, with Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot to follow in the second phase.
Authorities say the transition will enhance
operational efficiency, reduce theft risks and ensure more secure transactions.
Digital payments are also expected to speed up service delivery at shops, food
courts and ticket counters, minimise queues and cut down on human error.
Additionally, cashless systems improve transparency by providing clear
financial records for audits and oversight.
Source: The Nation