ISLAMABAD: The federal government has cancelled the licences of 50 pilots and suspended those of 33 others following allegations of fake pilot licences, the Ministry of Defence told the National Assembly on Friday.
In a written response submitted during Question Hour, the ministry said the controversy over pilots’ licences had resulted in international restrictions on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights by the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States.
As a consequence of the restrictions, PIA suffered an estimated Rs200 billion in revenue losses between August 2020 and December 2024, according to the government’s response.
The ministry said the government took action against pilots under the Civil Aviation Rules, 1994, cancelling 50 licences and suspending a further 33.
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The restrictions also resulted in PIA losing access to the UK, described in the government’s response as the airline’s most profitable international market.
The ministry said the loss of the UK market directly benefited competing airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which gained a greater share of passenger traffic on routes previously served by PIA.
The government has also constituted a cabinet committee, headed by the defence minister, to examine matters related to the issue.
