Pakistan’s aviation industry is on the verge of a major milestone, with discussions underway to resume flight operations to the United States by the second quarter of 2025. Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Nadir Shafi Dar, shared in an exclusive interview with Business Recorder that Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is working to settle outstanding financial obligations.
Dar explained that FAA officials are expected to visit Pakistan for an assessment in February-March 2025. He added that the FAA’s evaluation would follow similar criteria to the recent European Union assessment, which resulted in positive outcomes. Dar expressed confidence that Pakistan would meet the FAA’s standards, which could lead to the country’s upgrade from Category II to Category I status in the US.
The effort to restore direct flights to Western countries is also boosting international investment in Pakistan’s aviation sector. Investors are particularly interested following Pakistan’s successful approval for operations in the European Union and its expected approval for flights to the UK.
To support this growth, Pakistan’s airlines will need to modernize their fleets and invest in new aircraft, as well as expand training facilities for pilots. Dar emphasized that such growth requires substantial investment in infrastructure, including aircraft and simulator facilities, as well as in crew development.
Despite past challenges, such as foreign reserve shortages that hindered investment, Dar remains optimistic about the sector’s future, noting that the overall outlook is now much more positive.
