THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT GAVE PERMISSION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRICKED STRIP MEASURING 5000' BY 100'. VARIOUS REGIONAL AIRCRAFT USED THE STRIP FOR A SHORT TIME HOWEVER AS TECHNOLOGY PROGRESSED THE AIRSTRIP BECAME QUITE OUT-DATED.

THE NATIONAL FLAG CARRIER, PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES BEGAN DOMESTIC OPERATIONS IN 1958 OPERATING VARIOUS FLIGHTS FROM KARACHI TO EXPAND ON EXPORTS AND IMPORTS FROM THE CITY.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1965, THE BRICKED AIRSTRIP WAS RE-BUILT TO MEET STANDARDS AT THAT TIME. THE SURFACE WAS BUILT USING BITUMEN AND THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY INCREASED TO 9000' X 100' TO ALLOW THE AIRPORT TO HANDLE LARGER JET FUELED AIRCRAFT.

DURING 1966–1967 THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AIRPORT TERMINAL AND AN APRON TO HANDLE PROP AIRCRAFT SUCH AS THE FOKKER F-27 FRIENDSHIP WAS CONSTRUCTED.

IN 1972 A NEW PARALLEL RUNWAY WITH DIMENSIONS 9000 FEET BY 100 FEET WAS CONSTRUCTED WEST OF THE EXISTING RUNWAY, SINCE THE EXISTING RUNWAY HAD DETERIORATED QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY. THE NEW RUNWAY WAS DESIGNED TO HANDLE EVEN LARGER AIRCRAFT SUCH AS THE BOEING 737.

IN 1974 A JET APRON, TAXIWAY-B, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL BUILDING AND MET OFFICES WERE CONSTRUCTED.

A PREMIUM LOUNGE AND ILS CAT-I WERE INSTALLED IN 1985.

IN 1986 THE TERMINAL BUILDING WAS EXTENDED TO ACCOMMODATE GREATER NUMBER OF PASSENGERS AND MEET FUTURE GROWTH IN AIR TRAVEL FOR THE CITY.

In 1989-90 Boing Apron and Taxiway was started and widen up to 300 ft x 300 ft to accommodate Air Bus A-300.

IN 1991, THE OLD RUNWAY WAS WIDENED, STRENGTHENED AND EXTENDED REACHING DIMENSIONS OF 9270' BY 150' WITH SURFACE BITUMEN TO ACCOMMODATE AIRBUS AIRCRAFT SUCH AS AIRBUS 310S.

VHF Extended range was added in 1992.

IN 1993, CIP LOUNGE WAS CONSTRUCTED AND TERMINAL BUILDING WAS EXTENDED TO ACCOMMODATE GREATER TRAVEL GROWTH.

IN 1998, DIRECT HAJJ OPERATIONS WERE STARTED FROM THE AIRPORT ANNUALLY, ALLOWING MORE FLIGHTS AND TRAFFIC GROWTH FOR THE AIRPORT.

IN 2000, 3RD EXTENSION OF TERMINAL BUILDING FOR INTL OPS WAS CARRIED OUT.

IN 2008, RENOVATION OF ENTIRE TERMINAL BUILDING WAS MADE.

ON 9 APRIL 2015, THE AIRPORT WAS INSPECTED BY SHUJAAT AZEEM (SAPM), AIR MARSHAL (RETD) MUHAMMAD YOUSAF (DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PAKISTAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY)AND RANA MOHAMMAD AFZAL KHAN (MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, MNA). IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE AIRPORT WILL BE UPGRADED TO MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF THE IATA/ICAO.THE AIRPORT WILL UNDERGO THE FOLLOWING WORK:

• EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT PASSENGER TERMINAL WITH SEPARATE LOUNGES FOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATION
• CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CARGO COMPLEX
• EXTENSION & UPGRADING OF THE CURRENT RUNWAY TO HANDLE LARGER AIRCRAFT
• CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TAXIWAY
• RENOVATION OF THE AIRCRAFT STANDS (APRON)
• RENOVATION OF THE ARRIVALS/DEPARTURE/BUSINESS CLASS LOUNGES