UN asks staff to avoid Pakistan airlines

United Nations has cautioned its staff against travelling by any Pakistan registered airline over safety concerns. As per the advisory issued by the UN Security Management System (UNSMS), it is a precautionary measure following the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan into the alleged questionable licenses obtained by several pilots. The advisory has been recommended to the World Health Organization (WHO), UN High Commission for Refugees, UN Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization and other affiliates across the world and their staffers posted in many countries. UN officials working in Pakistan are barred to travel by any Pakistan-registered airline even within Pakistan. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The Pakistan registered airlines face ban from flying to 188 nations over their pilot licensing issue and failure to meet international norms set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), according to IANS report. Following a fake pilot license scam in Pakistan, state-owned carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has already been banned from flying to the UK and the European Union, as per the report. Pakistan aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan disclosed some months ago that 262 pilots including 141 of the PIA held fake credentials. Pakistan has a total of 860 active pilots, which include PIA, Serene Air and Air Blue pilots. However, out of 860 pilots, 262 pilots asked someone else to sit on their behalf, the aviation minister had claimed. Inputs from the Business Today. Image courtesy: Calaspan