Pakistan: Air Safety bill amended to make it more effective
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence has approved the
Pakistan Air Safety Investigation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, recommending its
passage to align the country's air safety investigation framework with the
government's revised administrative structure following the merger of the
Aviation Division into the Defence Division.
The proposed legislation amends the Pakistan
Air Safety Investigation Act, 2023, to address legal and administrative
inconsistencies arising from the February 2025 merger.
Bureau restructuring and staffing reforms
Under the bill, the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation will be renamed the Bureau
of Air Safety Investigation Pakistan (BASIP). The head of the bureau will also
be redesignated from Director to Director General, with the revised title
replacing the existing designation throughout the law.
The amendments seek to provide greater flexibility in recruiting temporary
and part-time professionals, enabling the bureau to engage specialised
expertise when required. However, post-employment restrictions will continue to
apply to the former Director General, full-time investigators and other regular
employees.
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The bill further allows former senior officials and regular staff to seek
exemptions from post-service restrictions by submitting an affidavit to the
Secretary of the Ministry of Defence affirming that no conflict of interest
exists. The secretary will have the authority to decide each request on a
case-by-case basis. For employees who served less than three years, the
duration of post-employment restrictions would be reduced in proportion to
their length of service.
Expanded investigative authority
The proposed amendments also broaden the powers of the Director General to
investigate recurring incidents, occurrences that could pose risks to aviation
safety, and any other events deemed necessary to improve air safety standards.
In addition, the bill proposes that all offences under the Act be tried
through summary proceedings to expedite the disposal of cases and strengthen
enforcement.
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According to the committee, the amendments are intended to ensure
administrative continuity following the Aviation Division's integration into
the Defence Division, enhance the bureau's ability to attract qualified professionals,
and improve the efficiency of air safety investigations and legal proceedings.
Following the committee's approval, the Pakistan Air Safety Investigation
(Amendment) Bill, 2026, will now be presented before the National Assembly for
consideration and passage.
If you want it in a Reuters-style
or Business Recorder-style
format with a stronger lead and tighter structure, I can also rewrite it
accordingly.
Source: Pakistan Today