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KARACHI:
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has decided to install e-gates at all the three major airports of the country — the Karachi airport, the Lahore airport and the Islamabad airport.
The e-gates to be installed at the international arrival and departure lounges of the airports will simplify and speed up immigration process and the international commuters will no longer have to wait in long queues.
The e-gates will also use artificial intelligence (AI) for the documentation and biometric identification of passengers and the project including installation of around 100 such gates will be completed in 2 years.
According to PAA officials, German experts have finalized the basic design for e-gates. During their visit to Pakistan, they also conducted a three-day workshop in Karachi. The PAA also held consultations with other stakeholders, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
They said the project reflects a commitment to providing modern, state-of-the-art facilities and is part of efforts to bring Pakistan’s airports up to international standards.
The project aims to deliver a secure, scalable, and technology-driven solution for major airports in Pakistan. As per the agreement, the consultants are performing satisfactorily.
Additional Director of Engineering Services Adnan Ahmed told The Express Tribune a globally renowned German firm M2P was selected for the e-gates project that began in September last year.
As part of the process, a German expert team visited Pakistan and after extensive consultations in Karachi, completed the basic design for the project. During their three-day workshop, it was explained that e-gates are self-service systems that automate the immigration process.
This enhances the travel experience for passengers by saving time and reducing hassle. One of the key benefits is that passengers do not have to interact directly with immigration staff. The system will be helpful for both passengers and border officers and will also introduce improvements in security.
