European experts to deliver specialised security training to Pakistani aviation inspectors

A team from the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) is set to arrive in Islamabad on Monday to deliver specialized security training and certification to Pakistani aviation inspectors, amid rising security concerns in the country, according to a Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) official.

This comes as Pakistan faces a significant increase in militant violence, including deadly suicide attacks, particularly in the western provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report ranks Pakistan as the second-most affected country by terrorist violence, reporting a 45% increase in deaths in 2024. Following the resumption of Pakistani flights to the European Union in January this year, Pakistan requested the ECAC’s assistance in training its civil aviation inspectors, PCAA officials said.

“The ECAC team is arriving in Pakistan tomorrow to train our inspectors in two critical areas: Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) and Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD),” says PCAA Director of Aviation Security Shahid Qadir. “The goal of the training is to enhance the inspectors' ability to operate explosive detection equipment and to guide detection dog handlers on key focus areas, ensuring the highest standards of inspection.”

In November, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and also authorized Airblue, another local carrier, to resume flights to Europe. The ban had been in effect since June 2020 due to concerns about Pakistan’s ability to meet international aviation standards.

Qadir emphasized that the PCAA is fully committed to complying with international standards and ensuring that Pakistani inspectors’ credentials align with those of their counterparts in Europe and the United States.

“The two-member ECAC team will conduct a four-day training session at Islamabad International Airport, where twelve of our aviation security regulatory inspectors will receive certification,” the official explained. “This training will boost their expertise and enhance Pakistan's credibility in the field of aviation security.”

Qadir added that aviation security undergoes the most frequent inspections each year. One of the primary aspects reviewed by international regulators during these inspections is the qualifications of the inspectors. “When international regulators see the courses, training, and certifications our inspectors have completed, they recognize that we meet international standards,” he concluded.