British team arriving tonight as Pakistan seeks to resume flights to UK

A seven-member team from the UK’s Department for Transport is arriving in Islamabad tonight to review Pakistan’s aviation standards. 

The visit is likely to pave the way for restoration of Pakistani airlines’ flights to the UK.

Starting from Monday, the team will begin auditing the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), covering several areas including licensing, airworthiness, flight standards, and other crucial aspects of aviation operations. 

“We are ready to brief the British officials,” said Nadir Shafi Dar, Director General of PCAA, who will lead the local team during the audit. The audit will run from January 27 to February 6, 2025.

A successful audit could lead to the lifting of the restrictions imposed in 2020 on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and all other Pakistani carriers, potentially allowing them to resume services to the UK.

In preparation for the audit, Pakistan’s civil aviation officials have made extensive arrangements. Staff have been instructed to report to work on Saturday, even though it is a holiday, to ensure the audit proceeds smoothly.

Pakistan has been eager to restore access to one of its key international markets, which was disrupted following the grounding of PIA flights by UK authorities over safety concerns in 2020. The outcome of this audit could significantly impact Pakistan’s aviation industry and its relationships with global regulators.