The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted ban on the flights of Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA), Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday. Making an announcement through an X post on Friday, Asif, who is additionally the aviation minister, wrote: “It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and the EASA have lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe.” “It is made possible due to the complete attention of Aviation Ministry to reinforce PCAA [Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority] and make certain protection oversight in line with ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organization] standards.” Giving credit to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) authorities, Asif stated: “Our authorities has taken big measures to bolster PCAA which include enactment of PCAA Act, clean segregation of regulator and carrier vendors, appointment of professional management and schooling to build the ability.” He thanked the European Commission and the EASA for conducting a transparent manner and our dedication to ensure aviation protection in Pakistan. Speaking to Geo News, the minister stated that the “lifting of suspension” would assist in privatisation of the loss-making national carrier. After the clean improvement, PIA’s flight operations to the EU would be restored soon, he said. It is pertinent to say here that the contemporary try to privatise suffering country wide airways collapsed after the only bidder, Blue World City, did not meet the authorities’s minimal asking rate of Rs85 billion ($304 million). Offering Rs10 billion ($35.Eight million) for a 60% stake in PIA, the only bidder flatly refused similarly negotiations. Later, the Privatisation Commission Board disregarded the sole bid of Rs10b, emphasising the need to refine phrases to attract buyers whilst minimising the airline’s liabilities. PIA is currently saddled with approximately Rs200 billion in liabilities. Responding to a question, Asif said that PIA’s rating has stepped forward and was hoping the United Kingdom and other international locations might additionally carry their regulations at the national flag provider. Reacting to the EASA’s choice, a spokesperson of the PIA stated: “We have carried out this key milestone after tireless efforts of 4 years.” The nationals would be capable of tour to European sectors through direct flights again, the airline introduced. “The European protection corporation has officially apprised the aviation ministry and the airline’s management thru a letter.” The spokesperson, in a assertion, congratulated the PIA management for correctly meeting the stern standards of the EASA for aviation protection except vowing for complete compliance with the policies. Fake licenses saga The European authorities had to start with imposed a ban at the operation of Pakistani airlines in July 2020 for six months after the then aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar revealed that pilots possessed “fake” licences. Since then, the protection corporation saved extending the ban on PIA flights to fly to the bloc, bringing up worries about “Pakistan’s ability to ensure compliance with global aviation requirements always”. The ban was a large blow to the airline, which changed into already below scrutiny internationally due to exposed pitfalls inside Pakistan’s aviation enterprise. The startling revelations got here as Sarwar provided the interim record at the probe into the PIA PK-8303 crash that resulted in the deaths of eighty five passengers after the plane crashed in Karachi on May 22, 2020. Following the file, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had expressed situation over the “severe lapse in licensing and protection oversight by means of the aviation regulator”. Subsequently, on June 24, 2020, the aviation minister introduced that the qualifications of 262 of the united states of america’s 860 pilots in Pakistan are “dubious” and as a result they’ll be barred from flying. It is to be referred to that EASA licenses, issued through the European Union, convey weight now not best inside EU member states but additionally in numerous different nations.
