West News Wire: The European Union’s flight ban on Pakistan International Airlines is anticipated to be lifted soon, according to local media, citing a country official from the Civil Aviation Authority.
“Yes, the ICAO has informed the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that the safety audit conducted by its team recently was presented to its validation committee, which cleared it, after which the SSC will be removed and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency will lift the ban,” CAA Director General Khaqan Murtaza said at a Senate Sub-Committee on Aviation meeting on Wednesday, according to Dawn newspaper.
He further stated that the PIA would not be allowed to resume flying operations to the EU unless the CAA gave its consent.
An ICAO audit team that had visited Pakistan to undertake a safety audit of the aviation authority completed the process on December 10; however, its final report will be released in a few weeks and shared publicly, the newspaper said.
According to Dawn, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had extended travel restrictions imposed on PIA in April for an indefinite period and has directed the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to get its safety audit done by ICAO scheduled in July.
