A seven-member team of the British Transport Department has arrived in Karachi to conduct audit of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). The audit will focus on safety standards related to licensing, airworthiness, and flight operations, among other critical departments.
On January 27, the team received an initial briefing at the PCAA headquarters from Director General Nadir Shafi Dar. The audit, which began on January 27, will continue until February 6, 2025.
According to the aviation sources, the lifting of a ban, imposed since 2020 on all Pakistani airlines, including the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines, is conditional on the success of the audit.
According to the officials of PCAA, all the necessary measures related to flight safety have already been taken. Audit by the British Department of Transport is a procedural formality.
They expressed optimism that, upon completion of the audit, Pakistani airlines will be granted permission to resume flights to the UK in March 2025.
