Self-Boarding Machines Introduced at Lahore Airport, Passenger Clearance Now Completed in Minutes

Lahore: To provide modern facilities for travelers, Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, one of Pakistan’s busiest airports, has installed self-boarding machines. These biometric-based gates verify passenger identities instantly and automatically open the gates, reducing immigration and boarding processes from hours to just a few minutes.

The system, a joint initiative of the Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan Airports Authority, is being installed in phases at Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore airports. Initial gates in Lahore have been installed and are currently in the testing phase. Full operational use is expected in a few weeks, which will save passengers valuable time and enhance security by preventing the use of fake documents or illegal travel attempts.

**Faster Clearance in Seconds**
The new system completes checks using facial recognition, fingerprints, and passport scans within 30 seconds to 2 minutes, even during peak hours. This makes the use of fake passports or visas nearly impossible. Modeled after airports in Dubai, Singapore, and Europe, multiple gates for both departure and arrival will soon be fully functional. German consultants assisted in developing this system.

**Context and Recent Issues**
The introduction comes after the first week of November, when FIA immigration teams offloaded over 150 passengers at Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad airports, despite travelers holding valid tickets and work visas for Gulf countries. These measures, initially aimed at preventing human trafficking and illegal migration, faced heavy criticism from overseas Pakistanis, prompting the FIA to clarify that no new travel restrictions or affidavits were required.

Experts say automated e-gates will minimize human intervention, reduce arbitrary offloading, and ensure faster, transparent processing. Passengers have welcomed the facility, noting that hours of waiting will now be eliminated, making travel significantly easier.

This upgrade is part of Lahore Airport’s expansion master plan, aiming to add new terminals and accommodate over 15 million passengers annually by 2026.