NA panel told no formal audit of CAA in a decade

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Aviation confirmed in the meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Aviation that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has not undergone a formal audit for the past decade, raising concerns about its regulatory compliance and safety oversight.

During this period, four aircraft accidents occurred, highlighting the need for improved operational protocols. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Aviation has called for the provision of all communications between the CAA and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to the Committee regarding the lack of audits and their impact on safety.

The meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Aviation was presided over by Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed Khan Babar here at Parliament House on Wednesday. The committee also informed that the ongoing privatization of PIA has led to a suspension of staff transfers, postings, promotions, and the rotation of employees every three years. Furthermore, financial constraints within the CAA have prevented necessary aircraft engine overhauls, reducing the operational fleet to just five aircraft and raising safety concerns.

It also expressed grave concern over the non-implementation of a National Assembly resolution passed on October 13, 2022, which called for renaming “Islamabad International Airport” to “Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Airport”. Despite the resolution being passed nearly two years ago, no action has been taken to fulfil this directive, prompting widespread criticism from various quarters. During the discussion of issues related to the Multan Flying Club (MFC), including the refund of student fees, resolution of employee concerns, and the submission of a report based on the audit and financial details of the MFC, the Committee appointed a Sub-Committee with the following terms of reference (ToRs) and composition.

The ToRs include “To refund students’ fees from Multan Flying Club and resolve employees-related issues and prepare report based on the audit and financial details of the MFC.” The Sub-Committee was headed by Dr Ramesh Lal as Convener while other members comprised Dr. Darshan, Choudhary Iftikhar Nazir, and Dr Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto.