CAA, PAA Headquarters to Move from Karachi to Islamabad

Quick Answer

The headquarters of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) will be transferred from Karachi Airport to Islamabad Airport. The CAA has been directed to complete its move by November 2026, while the PAA is expected to relocate by December 2026. Regional offices across Pakistan will continue working as usual.

Headquarters Relocation Planned in Two Stages

A decision has been taken to move the central headquarters of Pakistan’s two major civil aviation bodies from Karachi to Islamabad.

Both authorities currently operate their head offices from Karachi Airport. Under the relocation plan, their central administrative functions will move to Islamabad Airport in separate stages.

The CAA is scheduled to relocate first, followed by the PAA one month later. The decision only covers the headquarters and does not mean that the authorities are closing their offices or ending operations in Karachi and other cities.

Temporary Headquarters to Be Built at Islamabad Airport

A temporary headquarters will be constructed at Islamabad Airport so the two authorities can begin working from the federal capital without waiting for a permanent building.

The exact site of the temporary facility has not yet been publicly identified. A joint committee has been given responsibility for selecting a suitable location and supervising the transfer.

No confirmed details have been released about the permanent headquarters, including its location, construction schedule or expected completion date.

Seven-Member Committee Will Oversee the Transfer

A seven-member joint committee has been formed to manage the relocation process. It includes officials from both the CAA and PAA.

Sadiq Ur Rehman, Deputy Director General of the Pakistan Airports Authority, has been appointed as the head of the committee. His team will determine where the temporary headquarters should be built and coordinate the administrative work required for the transfer.

Further details about the other committee members and their individual responsibilities have not been made public.

Relocation Schedule for CAA and PAA

The two authorities have been given different deadlines:

This phased schedule may allow the government to complete the relocation in an organised manner while keeping routine aviation work active.

What Is the Difference Between CAA and PAA?

Although both bodies are connected to civil aviation, they have separate responsibilities.

Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority mainly serves as the country’s civil aviation regulator. Its responsibilities include setting and enforcing aviation rules, issuing licences and overseeing safety and regulatory compliance.

Pakistan Airports Authority

The Pakistan Airports Authority is responsible for administering, operating and developing airports and air-navigation services.

The PAA was established on August 9, 2024, under the Pakistan Airports Authority Act, 2023. It works as a public-sector autonomous body under the federal government’s Ministry of Defence. Its creation separated airport management from the CAA’s regulatory responsibilities. Pakistan Airports Authority

Pakistan’s Parliament passed separate civil aviation and airport authority laws in 2023 to provide a legal basis for the two bodies and their respective roles. National Assembly of Pakistan

Will Regional Offices or Airport Services Be Affected?

All regional offices of the CAA and PAA will continue functioning across Pakistan. No closure of regional offices has been announced.

The transfer concerns central administrative offices rather than airport operations across the country. There is also no reported change to passenger services, flight schedules, airport security or airline operations because of the decision.

Karachi will therefore continue to have regional aviation offices and airport-related operations after the headquarters move.

What Will Happen to Employees?

The available report does not state how many employees will relocate to Islamabad or whether all headquarters departments will move at the same time.

Information about staff housing, transfer allowances, office arrangements and support for affected employees has also not been released. These matters are likely to become clearer once the joint committee completes its planning.

Why Are the Headquarters Being Moved?

No official reason for shifting the headquarters from Karachi to Islamabad has been publicly stated in the available report.

It may be linked to administrative coordination in the federal capital, but this has not been officially confirmed. Any claim about the reason should therefore be avoided until the government or one of the authorities issues a detailed statement.

Key Details Still Awaited

Several important parts of the relocation plan have not yet been disclosed, including:

• The government authority that formally approved the move

• The estimated cost of relocation

• The budget for the temporary headquarters

• The number of employees being transferred

• The future use of the existing Karachi headquarters

• The site and timeline for permanent headquarters

• Arrangements for staff and their families

• Measures to maintain administrative services during the transfer