Saudi team to conduct audit of Pakistan's aviation security infrastructure
A team of aviation security experts
from Saudi Arabia is scheduled to conduct a comprehensive audit of seven major
airports in Pakistan this August, according to the Pakistan Civil Aviation
Authority (PCAA).
The airports to be assessed include
Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Multan. PCAA
spokesperson Shahid Qadir confirmed that the initiative is being led by Saudi
Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), which formally requested
the audit through its director general.
“A Saudi aviation security team will
visit Pakistan next month to begin the audit, which will extend beyond August
if needed,” Qadir stated. He added that the audit will be conducted in
coordination with PCAA’s Directorate of Aviation Security (AvSec), with AvSec
officials designated to oversee the process.
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This will be the second such audit by Saudi authorities, following an initial evaluation in 2023, which concluded positively. That earlier review highlighted effective collaboration among Pakistani stakeholders, including the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), the Airport Security Force (ASF), airlines, cargo services, and catering providers.
The new audit comes amid ongoing
improvements in Pakistan’s aviation security infrastructure. Following the
restructuring of the PCAA and establishment of the PAA, Pakistan scored 86.73%
in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Universal Security
Audit Programme (USAP)—well above the global average of 71% and India’s 73%.
In a related development, a
two-member delegation from the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport (DfT),
along with a British High Commission representative, began a three-day security
review at Islamabad International Airport on Tuesday. Their evaluation covers
airport security protocols, flight operations, and catering services.
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“All relevant stakeholders—including officials from the PAA, ASF, PIA, British Airways, Air Blue, Kitchen Cuisine, and Ras Menzies—attended the opening briefing,” the PCAA reported.
Meanwhile, the PCAA has initiated
discussions with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to explore the
possibility of resuming direct flights between Pakistan and the United States.
This follows the resumption of
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) services to Europe in January, after the
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted a four-year ban. PIA is
also pursuing approval from UK authorities to restart flights to the country.
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The airline’s ban in the EU, UK, and US was imposed following a 2020 crash in Karachi that led to scrutiny over the validity of pilot licenses—a scandal that prompted regulatory overhaul across Pakistan’s aviation sector.
Source: Bol News