UK delegation concludes Islamabad Airport's security audit, expresses satisfaction on protocols
A three-member delegation from the
United Kingdom’s Department for Transport (DfT) has completed a three-day
aviation security audit at Islamabad International Airport, declaring
Pakistan’s security measures “satisfactory and in line with international standards,”
according to a spokesperson for the Airport Security Force (ASF).
The British team, which arrived on
July 8, was accompanied by a representative of the British High Commission.
Their inspection began with an inaugural meeting attended by the airport’s
Chief Security Officer and representatives from all relevant stakeholders.
Participants in the briefing
included officials from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), ASF
personnel, and representatives from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA),
British Airways, Air Blue, Kitchen Cuisine, and Ras Menzies, among others.
Read More UK
Department of Transport to audit Islamabad Airport’s security protocols
The audit covered a wide range of security protocols including:
- Security deployment and internal controls
- Passenger and baggage screening
- Pass issuance procedures
- Vehicle and personnel checks
- CCTV operations and perimeter security
- Deployment of quick response forces and drone defenses
- Emergency response readiness
- Catering and flight operations security
At the conclusion of the visit, the
UK team praised ASF’s efforts in maintaining robust aviation security
protocols.
Saudi Aviation Team to Audit Seven
Airports
In a separate development, a Saudi
aviation security team is scheduled to audit seven major airports across
Pakistan starting in August, according to PCAA spokesperson Shahid Qadir.
“The Director General of Saudi
Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has contacted Pakistan’s DG
CAA, Nadir Shafi Dar, to initiate the audit,” Qadir said. The Saudi team will
assess airports in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Sialkot,
and Multan. Follow-up audits are also expected in October.
The Saudi audit will be coordinated
by the Directorate of Aviation Security (AvSec) of the PCAA, which will host
the visiting delegation.
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team commences flight safety and maintenance audit in Pakistan
These audits come as Pakistan’s civil aviation sector continues to improve on international benchmarks. According to the CAA, Pakistan recently scored 86.73% in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP), significantly above the global average of 71% and India’s 73%.
Progress Toward Direct Flights to
the US
In another significant development,
PCAA Director General Nadir Shafi Dar has initiated discussions with the U.S.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to explore the possibility of launching
direct flight operations between Pakistan and the United States.
The initiative follows the recent
restoration of flights to the European Union and ongoing efforts to fully
reintegrate into the United Kingdom’s aviation network.