DG Khan Airport To Become International Facility By January 2028 Via Rs5.5bn Upgrade
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✧ GENERATE BRIEFING
Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari announced on Sunday, October 19, 2026, that the expansion and upgrading of Dera Ghazi Khan (D.G. Khan) Airport into an international-grade aviation facility is scheduled for completion by January 2028. Executed by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) at an estimated cost of Rs5.5 billion, the project forms part of a broader regional infrastructure package for South Punjab. Key project components, regional development initiatives, and energy sector updates include: Airfield & Civil Works Scope: Onsite Civil Aviation Authority teams have commenced runway extension and expansion works to enable wide-body, international commercial flight operations. South Punjab Development Package: Beyond the airport, Leghari highlighted three complementary regional projects: a specialized cancer hospital, a 50-year long-term municipal sewerage overhaul, and main road widening/rehabilitation networks. Power Sector Load Management & APMS Rollout: The minister clarified that scheduled load management continues on feeders exhibiting Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses of 30% or higher.
The expansion of Dera Ghazi Khan Airport into an international airport is expected to be completed by January 2028 at a cost of Rs5.5 billion, Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said.
According to a Press Information Department (PID) release issued on October 19, practical work on the project has begun following the prime minister’s announcement. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) teams are working at the site, with runway expansion among the ongoing activities.
Aviation Infrastructure and Regional Economic Development
Leghari inspected the project and said upgrading the airport for international flights would improve travel facilities for residents and create new opportunities for economic development across South Punjab.
The minister also referred to three other development initiatives announced for Dera Ghazi Khan: a cancer hospital, a long-term sewerage project designed to meet the region’s needs for the next 50 years, and the widening and rehabilitation of roads.
Electricity Load Management and Targeted APMS Deployment
Separately, Leghari discussed electricity load management and said power cuts were being carried out according to an established schedule. He attributed higher power-generation costs partly to constraints on gas availability amid broader geopolitical tensions.
The government is deploying Advanced Power Management Systems (APMS) on electricity transformers to identify areas with high levels of power theft and enable targeted enforcement. The system is intended to prevent paying consumers across an entire feeder from being affected because of theft in specific areas.
The minister said load shedding would continue on feeders with aggregate technical and commercial losses of 30% or more, adding that the government was pursuing measures to reduce electricity theft and improve the performance of distribution networks.
The airport project and associated infrastructure initiatives are expected to improve connectivity and public services in Dera Ghazi Khan and surrounding areas, while the power-sector measures aim to reduce distribution losses and strengthen electricity management.
