Inside Lahore ATC: Rare tower access reveals Pakistan’s aviation backbone

LAHORE: Behind the glass walls of Lahore’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, dozens of aircraft are tracked every minute across glowing radar screens. An unseen choreography that keeps Pakistan’s busiest air corridors moving safely.

During a rare, exclusive visit granted to Pakistan TV Digital, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) opened the doors of this high-security facility, offering an unusual look at how advanced technology and trained professionals safeguard millions of passengers each year.

Inside the tower at Allama Iqbal International Airport, air traffic controllers work around the clock, monitoring aircraft on the ground and in controlled airspace, managing takeoffs, landings, and taxiing movements with precision timing and constant communication.

“Air traffic control is responsible for the safety of passengers and flights from embarking to disembarking,” said Muhammad Ahsan Rasheed, Chief Air Traffic Control Officer, in an interview with Pakistan TV Digital.

“From the moment an aircraft starts moving until it completes its journey, ATC remains responsible for maintaining safe separation and smooth operations.”

One of the most critical systems in operation at Lahore airport is its Category-III Instrument Landing System (CAT-III ILS), among the most advanced landing technologies in commercial aviation. CAT-III enables aircraft to land safely in extremely low or even zero visibility, a frequent challenge in northern Pakistan during winter fog and smog seasons.

“ILS has different categories, and Lahore’s ATC tower is equipped with the latest Category-III system,” Ahsan explained. “This allows aircraft to land even when pilots cannot see the runway at all.”

But landing an aircraft is only part of the equation.

What happens after touchdown

In zero-visibility conditions, pilots may be unable to see runway exits, taxiways or other aircraft. To mitigate this risk, Lahore ATC also relies on Surface Movement Radar (SMR), a ground surveillance system that tracks every aircraft and authorized vehicle on the airfield in real time.

“CAT-III allows the aircraft to land without visibility, but what happens after landing is equally important,” Ahsan said. “Surface Movement Radar shows us the exact position of aircraft and vehicles, helping prevent runway incursions and ensuring safe ground movement.”

Beyond ILS and SMR, Lahore airport is supported by a comprehensive suite of navigation technologies, including Non-Directional Beacons (NDB), VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) systems, and Required Navigation Performance (RNP). A satellite-based system that improves flight accuracy, fuel efficiency, and route flexibility.

Air traffic control operations are divided into specialized units, Ahsan noted.

The control tower manages ground movements, while radar and approach units oversee aircraft in the surrounding airspace, maintaining safe distances and sequencing arrivals and departures.

The integration of CAT-III ILS, SMR, and advanced navigation systems reflects the Pakistan Airports Authority’s broader modernization drive, aimed at bringing major airports in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

Through sustained investment in technology and human capital, Lahore’s ATC operation demonstrates how complex systems and highly trained professionals work together to ensure safety, often under challenging environmental conditions.

This rare access inside Lahore’s ATC tower reveals a side of Pakistan’s aviation sector seldom seen: quiet, technical, and relentlessly focused on safety, where every decision, every radar sweep, and every radio call helps keep the country’s skies secure.