RAWALPINDI – A three-member delegation from the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport (DfT) has concluded a thorough aviation security inspection at Islamabad International Airport, declaring Pakistan’s security protocols “satisfactory and in line with international standards,” according to a spokesperson for the Airport Security Force (ASF).
The UK inspection team, which arrived on July 8 for a three-day review, was accompanied by a representative of the British High Commission. Their evaluation began with an inaugural meeting attended by the airport’s Chief Security Officer and representatives from all major aviation stakeholders.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) confirmed that all relevant bodies were present, including officials from the PCAA, ASF, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), British Airways, Air Blue, Kitchen Cuisine, Ras Menzies, and other key service providers.
During the inspection, the UK team examined a wide range of aviation security measures, including personnel deployment, screening procedures, access control, staff and vehicle checks, perimeter security, CCTV surveillance, drone mitigation plans, and the readiness of emergency response teams. Flight operations and airline catering services also came under scrutiny.
At the end of the visit, the inspectors commended the ASF’s efforts to maintain robust aviation security standards that ensure passenger safety and compliance with international norms.In a parallel development, a high-level Saudi aviation security delegation is scheduled to visit Pakistan in August and October to audit seven of the country’s major airports. According to PCAA spokesperson Shahid Qadir, the audit will cover airports in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Multan.
The initiative follows a request by the Director General of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to Pakistan’s DG CAA, Nadir Shafi Dar, for a formal aviation security audit. The PCAA’s Directorate of Aviation Security (AvSec) will host and coordinate with the Saudi delegation.
These inspections are taking place as Pakistan’s civil aviation sector gains international recognition for its improvement in safety and security standards. Pakistan recently achieved a score of 86.73% in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP)—well above the global average of 71% and significantly higher than India’s 73%.In another strategic move, DG PCAA Nadir Shafi Dar has initiated talks with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to explore the possibility of direct flight operations between Pakistan and the United States. This comes on the heels of resumed flights to the European Union and growing prospects for reintegration into the UK aviation network.
With strong audit scores and growing international confidence, Pakistan’s aviation sector appears to be on a determined path to global reintegration.
