In a significant restructuring move, the Pakistani government has undertaken the separation of the Pakistan Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Department, delineating two distinct entities within Civil Aviation.
Under this transformative initiative, the caretaker government has officially bifurcated civil aviation into two departments, assigning airports to the Pakistan Airports Authority, while other crucial functions such as licensing, flight standards, and air transport entrusted to the Civil Aviation Department.
The execution of this organizational overhaul is in accordance with the newly implemented Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan Airports Authority Act of 2023. Notably, distinct leadership will appointed for each department, a directive stemming from the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The global aviation watchdog, World Civil Aviation, had advocated for the segregation of regulatory and airport services, prompting the caretaker government to heed the counsel and implement the new structure. The statutory changes came into effect on November 10, with the Ministry of Aviation issuing a formal notification to announce the development.
As part of the transition, the notification mandates both the Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority to promptly disclose essential information, including the number of employees and detailed assets. This move follows the prior parliamentary approval of the separation act, signaling a strategic alignment with international aviation standards.
This decisive step by the Pakistani government reflects a commitment to enhancing efficiency and compliance within the civil aviation sector, aligning operations with global best practices. The delineation of responsibilities between the Pakistan Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Department poised to optimize regulatory oversight and airport services, ushering in a new era for the nation’s aviation landscape.
