The United States has backed a $2.4 billion investment proposal by an American company to deploy advanced security systems at major airports in Pakistan, in a move aimed at strengthening border controls and improving real-time threat detection.

According to reports, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker has expressed support for a plan by Securiport to install Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems across Pakistani airports.

The proposed system would allow real-time data sharing between airlines and government authorities while ensuring Pakistan retains full ownership and control of passenger data. It is designed to support biometric-enabled border management and strengthen the country’s ability to identify high-risk travelers.

Under the proposal, Securiport would provide the full upfront investment and recover its costs over time through a passenger security surcharge model. The company has also committed to setting up a local subsidiary and training more than 1,000 Pakistani professionals in advanced security technologies.

The systems are expected to be operated by the Federal Investigation Agency and integrated with existing databases, including exit control lists and international monitoring platforms, to support real-time threat detection.

The proposal comes as the Pakistan Airports Authority continues efforts to modernize airport security infrastructure, including the planned rollout of automated border control systems such as e-gates with biometric verification and facial recognition.

However, some recent procurement efforts in the sector have come under scrutiny following transparency concerns raised by the Senate Standing Committee on Defence.

Pakistan has been working for several years to upgrade airport security through international partnerships and competitive bidding. The latest US-backed proposal could speed up implementation, although the government has not yet announced a final decision.