ISLAMABAD: Federal Secretary of Defence Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Muhammad Ali, inaugurated Pakistan’s first Premier Meet & Assist service, “Khush Aamdeed”, at Islamabad International Airport on Aug.25, aiming to modernize the country’s aviation sector and elevate the passenger experience to match the world’s leading airports.
The launch aligns with the vision of the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and COAS & CDF to reinvigorate airport services nationwide. A passenger traveling from Islamabad to Medina became the first to use the new service.
Senior officials and representatives from government agencies, airlines, and the aviation, tourism and hospitality sectors attended the inauguration. Guests from the Pakistan Airports Authority, Airports Security Force, Federal Investigation Agency, Anti-Narcotics Force, airlines and ground handling companies also took part.
The ceremony opened with a recitation of the Holy Quran and the national anthem, followed by a presentation on the new service. The chairman of the Pakistan Airports Authority and the Secretary of Defence addressed attendees before the formal unveiling, an official photograph and a guided demonstration.
Service Features:
Khush Aamdeed offers passengers priority check-in and security clearance, personalized assistance, premium lounge access and airport pick-and-drop transport through a range of packages.
Depending on the plan selected, travelers can also receive help with baggage, buggy transfers, approved facilitation lanes, coordination with airlines and ground handlers, and multilingual support.
Public Facilitation:
Passengers traveling from Islamabad to Madina were the first to use the Khush Aamdeed meet-and-assist service. The service targets diplomats, corporate executives, families, senior citizens.
Overseas Pakistanis, tourists, groups and any passenger seeking a smoother, more personalized airport journey. Officials said every service is delivered through approved procedures in coordination with airport stakeholders.
An initiative to modernize airport experience:
Khush Aamdeed was established through a joint venture between Walee Technologies and the Saudi Arabian hospitality group “Al Nazawy”, which brings expertise in air travel and tourism.
The service is licensed by the Pakistan Airports Authority and is currently operating in Islamabad, with plans to expand gradually to other airports across Pakistan.
Air Marshal (Ret.) Arshad Malik, CEO of Khush Aamdeed, said travelers increasingly need personalized guidance and dependable support throughout their journeys.
The Secretary of Defence said “Security and good passenger service are not contradictory objectives. With proper coordination, SOPs and trained personnel, we can achieve both.”
Officials described the launch as part of a broader Ministry of Defence effort to transform Pakistan’s airports, which serve as the country’s cultural and economic gateways and help shape its international image.
They called it a whole-of-government initiative reflecting coordinated efforts among agencies and stakeholders to raise service standards at Pakistani airports.
