Govt kicks off outsourcing operations, assets at three airports.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan on Thursday kicked off outsourcing of operations and land assets at three major airports to be run through a public private partnership, a finance ministry statement said, a move to generate foreign exchange reserves for its ailing economy.

Islamabad has engaged the World Bank's International Finance Corporation as an advisor for the outsourcing process, the ministry said in the statement.

"The outsourcing of three airports has been initiated within the scope of public-private partnership .. to engage private investor/airport operator through a competitive and transparent process to run the airports, develop appertaining land assets and enhance avenues for commercial activities and to garner full revenue potential," the ministry said.

No details of the partnership, or any agreement have been made official.

Pakistan, however, has been in talks with Qatar to jointly run terminals at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airports, officials say.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Doha late last year to garner Qatari investment in...