‘Dark Era of Pakistan’s Aviation Industry’, Senate Aviation Committee unveils the inefficiencies & unresolved issues of the CAA

ISLAMABAD, August 12 (SABAH): The Senate Standing Committee on Aviation, chaired by Senator Abdul Qadoos Bizenjo, convened on Monday at the Parliament House.

The committee expressed significant dissatisfaction with the inefficiencies of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the prolonged unresolved issues affecting the airlines. Notably, members criticized the suspension of Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) flights to the European Union, emphasizing the lack of progress in addressing this problem. The Secretary of the CAA reported that resolving the issue requires improvements in safety standards across the board and indicated that a formal report and declaration would be issued to resume flights by the end of December. However, the committee members expressed skepticism, citing ongoing turmoil and lack of accountability within the CAA.

The committee also addressed the prolonged issue of pilot licenses, which has been under discussion for the past three years. Members criticized the Director General of Civil Aviation for failing to provide relief to pilots and described this period as a “dark era” for Pakistan’s aviation industry. The Secretary Aviation assured the Committee that the pilots issue will be resolved in two weeks and he will respond back to the Committee.

Regarding the appointment criteria for Aeronautical Medical Staff, it was outlined that candidates for the position of Additional Director Aeromedical (EG-07) should hold an MBBS degree from a registered medical college, be a qualified flight surgeon registered with the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC), and have at least 20 years of medical or managerial experience, including five years as a flight surgeon. For nursing paramedics (SG-05), a diploma in general nursing with post-basic specialization in emergency medicine or cardiology is required.

Additionally, a senior representative from the Airports Security Force (ASF) provided insights into airport security measures and discussed the bravery of Asad Shah Nawaz, who defended Karachi airport during an attack on June 8, 2014. The committee questioned the exemption of parliamentarians from security checks at airports, which the ASF representative confirmed, leading to objections from the committee members who argued that such exemptions are uncommon globally.

The committee also reviewed the status of Nawab Shah Airport, which had been discontinued as an alternate airport for Karachi due to severe flooding in 2022 that impacted its infrastructure. It was reported that the airport is now operational for aircraft up to the A320. The committee questioned the decision to use Nawab Shah as an alternate airport and directed the CEO of airlines to explain the selection process in the next meeting.

Lastly, the committee was updated on flight operations at Quetta International Airport. It was reported that PIA, Serene Airlines, and Fly Jinnah are conducting domestic flights, while Air Arabia and Fly Dubai operate international flights between Sharjah-Quetta-Sharjah and Dubai-Quetta-Dubai, respectively.