Islamabad: The federal government has cancelled the licences of 50 pilots and suspended another 33 following allegations surrounding fake pilot licences, according to information presented by the Ministry of Defence during the National Assembly’s question hour.
In a written response submitted on Friday, the ministry said the controversy over pilots’ licences led to international restrictions on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights by the United Kingdom, European Union and United States. These restrictions resulted in an estimated revenue loss of Rs200 billion for PIA between August 2020 and December 2024.
The government took action under the Civil Aviation Rules 1994, cancelling 50 pilot licences and suspending 33 others as part of measures taken in response to the licence controversy. The issue had raised concerns internationally about the credibility of Pakistan’s pilot licensing and aviation oversight system.
The ministry’s response also highlighted the commercial impact on PIA. The national airline lost access to what had been described as its most profitable international market in the United Kingdom during the period affected by the restrictions.
According to the written response, rival international airlines benefited from PIA’s reduced presence in the UK market. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were among the carriers that gained from the shift in passenger traffic and market share.
The government has also taken steps at the policy level to address issues linked to the aviation sector. According to the ministry, the federal cabinet has formed a cabinet committee under the chairmanship of the defence minister to examine matters related to the situation.
