The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has finalized the design phase of a major airport modernization project that will see biometric e-gates installed at three of the country’s busiest international airports. The new system will be deployed first at Islamabad International Airport, followed by Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Biometric E-Gates and Smart Border Integration
Developed with technical guidance from German aviation consultancy M2P Consulting, the e-gates will use biometric technology to verify passenger identities and streamline immigration checks. The project lines up with Pakistan’s Digital Nation Pakistan Act, passed in early 2025, which prioritizes the modernization of digital infrastructure, including secure identity and border management systems.
The initiative mirrors similar developments in Zimbabwe and Oman, where biometric e-gates are being deployed to reduce wait times and enhance border security. In Pakistan’s case, the gates will integrate with the systems operated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which remains responsible for civil immigration processing. Passengers who do not pass through the e-gates will be rerouted to manual FIA counters.
Project Timeline and Scope
The project’s design phase concluded after three days of technical workshops that included input from aviation security officials, immigration authorities, and airline representatives. According to PAA, the next stage will involve preparing an international tender, with M2P Consulting tasked with finalizing the technical specifications.
The system will launch at Islamabad International Airport and then expand to Karachi and Lahore. PAA expects the rollout to span a 24-month timeline, with approximately 100 gates to be installed across the three airports. While the exact cost is still to be determined through the competitive bidding process, officials say the procurement will be managed transparently through international channels.
The new infrastructure builds on prior limited trials of automated gates, such as those conducted at Multan Airport in 2024. This broader implementation is expected to significantly reduce congestion at immigration counters while enhancing overall security through advanced biometric verification.
Sources: The Express Tribune, Islamabad Post, 24 News HD
–
By the ID Tech Editorial Team
