Government to Establish Distinct Immigration Stations for Overseas Travelers at Airports
Pakistan has taken a significant step towards enhancing its international image and economic attractiveness by implementing separate immigration counters for foreign passengers at its international airports. The initiative, spearheaded by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was announced on Saturday via a press release by the PM Office Media Wing.
The project, which began with the establishment of dedicated immigration counters for foreigners at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport in early August 2025, is part of a broader strategy to make Pakistan more welcoming for investors and tourists.
The aim of the decision is multifaceted. It aims to reduce clearance delays, improve the travel experience of foreign passengers, boost tourism, and facilitate foreign investment. The decision is also intended to ensure the continuity of trade activities in Pakistan and streamline the immigration process for international visitors.
Authorities plan to roll out similar counters at other major international airports across Pakistan in the coming weeks, ensuring consistency and meeting international service standards. This project is aligned with Pakistan’s strategy to strengthen its tourism sector and attract foreign business amid ongoing economic reforms supported by a $7 billion IMF program.
The immigration queue separation is expected to streamline immigration clearance for foreign travelers by eliminating unnecessary delays, thus making arrivals smoother and more efficient. It will also ease processing for Pakistani citizens returning home. The government’s goal includes boosting the travel and tourism market, projected to grow annually by 6.75% from 2025 to 2029, reaching an estimated value of $5.53 billion by 2029.
This initiative is an indirect benefit of the immigration queue separation, which is also intended to provide further facilitation to foreign investment. The expedited clearance of Pakistani citizens returning home is another advantage of this decision.
In summary, the timeline began with Lahore’s airport implementation in early August 2025, followed by phased nationwide adoption within weeks, under the guidance of the Prime Minister’s office to enhance Pakistan’s international image and economic attractiveness. The government's efforts are aimed at making Pakistan a more attractive destination for global tourists and investors.
- This initiative, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is part of a broader strategy to make Pakistan more appealing to investors and tourists.
- The project, launched at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport, aims to improve the travel experience, boost tourism, and facilitate foreign investment.
- The implementation of separate immigration counters for foreigners aligns with Pakistan’s strategy to strengthen its tourism sector and attract foreign business, amid economic reforms supported by a $7 billion IMF program.
- The government's goal is not only to streamline immigration for foreign travelers, but also to boost the travel and tourism market, projected to grow annually by 6.75% from 2025 to 2029, and provide further facilitation to foreign investment.
