Denmark funded efforts to strengthen border management have produced visible results at Sialkot International Airport following a visit by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Peter Emil Nielsen to the Second Line Border Control Office. The airport is one of six international airports in Pakistan to benefit from the Rights Based Border Management in Silk Route Countries project, bringing practical tools and upgrades to frontline officers.
Selected at the request of the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Investigation Agency, Sialkot stands out as the country’s only privately owned international airport managed by the local business community. With eight airlines operating roughly 21 flights daily, the facility plays a growing role in linking regional manufacturers and exporters to international markets while requiring robust security and rights respecting procedures.
Implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development in partnership with the FIA, the project has focused on equipping officers with the ability to detect forged documents, identify fraud and strengthen risk analysis. These capacity building measures are designed to make border management both more secure and more respectful of travellers’ rights across Pakistan’s airports.
Although the project phase is drawing to a close, its legacy remains in upgraded infrastructure and institutional capacity embedded at major airports. Continued use of improved procedures and tools at Sialkot and other sites is expected to support safer, more efficient air links that benefit trade and public safety in Pakistan.
