The UN has advised Pakistan to suspend issuance of any new pilot licenses.
Islamabad:
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has advised Pakistan to take “immediate corrective action” and suspend the issuance of any new pilot licenses following a scandal over falsified licenses, according to a responsible and a document seen by Reuters.
The recommendations from ICAO, a United Nations specialized agency that works to ensure safety in international air transport, come days after Pakistan launched a criminal investigation into 50 pilots and five civil aviation officials who carried them out. allegedly helped tamper with their credentials to obtain pilot licenses.
“Pakistan should improve and strengthen its licensing system to ensure that it takes into account all the necessary processes and procedures and prevents inconsistencies and bad practices before new licenses are issued and privileges are granted. suspended licenses will not be reinstated, ”ICAO said, in a letter that had not yet been reported. at the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) last week.
An official in Pakistan’s aviation ministry told Reuters the country had not issued new licenses since July, following the scandal.
The Montreal-based agency’s recommendations precede an ICAO audit aimed at assessing the country’s aviation safety management systems.
The ICAO audit, originally scheduled for November this year, has been moved to June, effectively giving the PCAA more time to work on reforms, the official said.
A spokesperson for the PCAA did not respond to a request for comment.
An ICAO representative declined to comment on specific details, but said in an email that ICAO “is helping Pakistan recognize the concerns, and if it does not take action on them quickly, we will. actively inform other countries ”.
Pilot scandal tainted Pakistan’s aviation industry and injured national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) , which was banned from flying to Europe and the United States.
In addition to revoking the licenses of 50 pilots, Pakistan also suspended 32 other pilots for a year.
