Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has installed an advanced surveillance system at the runway area of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, enabling round-the-clock monitoring of the airport’s primary and secondary runways and their surrounding areas. The new system is intended to improve visibility across the airside environment and provide airport authorities with more detailed information about activity around operational runways. The surveillance upgrade uses modern cameras that can monitor aircraft parking and ground movement while also providing clear imagery during nighttime and low-light conditions. The installation gives airport teams an additional technology-based tool for monitoring runway activity and identifying potential safety or security concerns more quickly.
The upgraded surveillance infrastructure will allow authorities to keep continuous watch over aircraft movement and parking operations within designated areas of the airport. According to officials, the cameras are capable of maintaining clear visibility after dark, addressing an important requirement for monitoring an airport that operates around the clock. The system is also expected to assist security personnel in identifying suspicious activity in the runway area and surrounding zones at an earlier stage. With the surveillance feed available to relevant airport teams, incidents or unusual activity can be assessed without relying solely on periodic physical checks. The Pakistan Airports Authority has described the installation as part of efforts to modernise monitoring infrastructure and improve operational oversight at Jinnah International Airport, one of the country’s busiest aviation facilities.
One of the key uses of the new system will be the detection of animals around active runways. A PAA spokesperson said the airport’s airside department will be able to identify the presence of animals around runways during aircraft landings and take-offs. Wildlife near an active runway can create a significant aviation safety risk, particularly when aircraft are approaching or departing, making early detection important for airport operations. The new cameras are expected to provide teams with better visibility of these areas and allow them to respond when potential hazards are identified. The system will also support closer monitoring of aircraft as they move between designated operational areas and parking positions, giving airport personnel an additional source of real-time information during routine flight operations.
The surveillance installation forms part of PAA’s wider efforts to upgrade security and operational technology at Jinnah International Airport. By combining continuous monitoring with cameras capable of operating in nighttime conditions, the system is expected to improve situational awareness across the runway environment and help airport teams respond more quickly to potential safety and security issues. The upgrade covers both the primary and secondary runways and their surrounding areas, extending surveillance beyond individual aircraft movements to the wider airside environment. While officials have not disclosed the project’s cost, specific camera specifications or a detailed implementation timeline, the new system represents an expansion of technology-based monitoring at Karachi’s main international airport. Its ability to observe aircraft movement, parking activity and possible wildlife hazards throughout the day and night gives airport authorities greater visibility over conditions that can affect safe and efficient flight operations.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
