A two-member European Civil Aviation team will arrive in Pakistan next week to deliver specialised security training and certification to airport regulators for the first time, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The team will conduct training sessions at Islamabad Airport, with a focus on meeting international standards in Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) and Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD), local media reported today.
A CAA spokesperson stated that the initiative is aimed at aligning Pakistan’s aviation security protocols with globally recognised benchmarks to enhance airport safety.
The training comes in the context of improved EU-Pakistan aviation relations. Last year, the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted the suspension on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and authorised Airblue to operate flights to Europe, ending a ban in place since 2020.
Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the resumption of European operations was the result of focused reforms by the Ministry of Aviation to strengthen the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and improve safety oversight in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.