Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has suffered a loss of Rs 8.5 billion since the imposition of airspace restrictions on February 27, 2019, said Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan. Speaking at a press conference held at CAA Headquarters, he said that although PCAA has suffered a loss of Rs 8.5 billion, the financial losses incurred by Indian Aviation were enormous as compared to Pakistan.
He elucidated that the plan of restructuring of CAA was purely on technical grounds and would infuse new momentum in the organisation and the recent bifurcation of CAA functions into regulatory roles vis-à-vis commercial/service provider roles was simply to optimise the efficiency and performance and ruled out the possibilities of downsizing/rightsizing in the authority.
He said that it was the priority of incumbent government to revamp the PIA and increase its fleet to 45 by phasing-in of 14 new aircraft on gradual basis by the year 2025.
He further said that in past, domestic airlines would not have space to expand their operations due to open sky policies hence new open sky policy has been implemented which offered an equal opportunity to domestic air operators to grow their businesses.
"In this regard all of the Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with various countries will be reviewed in the interest of Pakistan," federal minister said. In pursuing New Aviation Policy 2019 (NAP 2019) he acknowledged that security agencies would be equipped with latest security equipment and scanners to meet the international security standards.
Minister while expressing his satisfaction over the resumption of British Airways flights said that many other international airlines were also approaching to commence their operations in Pakistan and added that initial security surveys/inspections in this regard were underway by various international airlines.
He answered that there was no plan to shift the headquarters of CAA, PIA or ASF to Islamabad. However, he argued that approximately 60 percent of aviation related activities has already been shifted to northern part of Pakistan, accordingly more manpower may be deployed at the capital city.
Furthermore, he said that no airport of Pakistan was being handed over to Qatar, and whatever have been reported on this matter were speculations only and added that waiver on housing and landing charges of aircraft was aimed at easing out the operational cost of airlines and to promote healthy competition in country's aviation sector.
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