Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday held a meeting with a delegation of the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), led by its Director General Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, to review a comprehensive package of aviation development projects in the province. The meeting also discussed the proposed Greenfield Airport in Sukkur, improvement and expansion of Jinnah International Airport Karachi, upgradation of Hyderabad Airport, and the transformation of the Civil Aviation Training Institute (CATI) Hyderabad into Pakistan's first dedicated aviation university.
Officials said the meeting focused on strengthening Sindh's aviation infrastructure, improving passenger facilities and connectivity, expanding airport capacity, enhancing operational safety, and developing aviation-related education and skills. The PAA delegation briefed the chief minister on the status of the projects and sought the provincial government's cooperation on land acquisition, land records, road connectivity, and other matters falling within the provincial domain.
The CM was briefed on the feasibility study for a new Greenfield Airport in the Sukkur region. The proposed airport is envisaged as a regional gateway serving Upper Sindh and surrounding areas, with a planned capacity of up to 1.6 million passengers annually and allowing operations by large aircraft. The airport is also proposed to serve as an alternate for aircraft diverted from Karachi. The feasibility assessment showed that the existing Sukkur Airport faces constraints related to airspace, land, and future expansion. The proposed Greenfield facility would provide greater scope for commercial aviation and regional connectivity.
The study indicates that the wider Sukkur region has a substantial catchment population, with more than 29.6 million people within a three-hour catchment, strengthening the case for improved air connectivity in the region. The PAA said approximately 3,000 acres would be required for the development of the new airport and sought the Sindh government's support in the land acquisition process. It also proposed the alignment of regional development schemes with the airport project and invited the Sindh government to consider participation through the Public-Private Partnership mode, including land equity and other mutually agreed arrangements.
The chief minister directed the provincial authorities to facilitate coordination with the PAA on land and connectivity matters and to examine the proposed partnership arrangements so that the project could move forward in a coordinated manner. The meeting also reviewed the ongoing improvement and modernisation of Jinnah International Airport. The PAA briefed the chief minister on improvements to passenger facilities, including flooring, ceilings, wall cladding, lighting, signage, counters, building joints, and car parking, with the project also incorporating elements reflecting the cultural heritage and history of the Indus Valley. The PC-I and detailed design are under preparation, with a proposed project timeline of two years.