Aviation Minister: Almost 1 in 3 pilots in Pakistan have fake licenses
PIA has grounded all its pilots who hold fake licenses, effective immediately.
More than 30% of civilian pilots in Pakistan have fake licenses and are not qualified to fly, the Federal Minister for Aviation revealed on Wednesday.
Addressing Pakistan’s National Assembly, Ghulam Sarwar Khan said 262 pilots in Pakistan “did not take the exam themselves” and had paid someone else to take it on their behalf.
“They don’t have the flying experience,” he said.
Pakistan has 860 active pilots serving its domestic airlines — including the country’s Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flagship — as well as various foreign carriers, Khan said.
PIA has grounded all its pilots who hold fake licenses, effective immediately.
“PIA acknowledges that fake licenses are not just a PIA issue but spread across the entire Pakistani airline industry,” spokesperson Abdullah Khan said, adding that some of the fake pilots also fly for foreign carriers.
“Pilots were flying planes with fake degrees and licenses. Truly a matter of utter shame for the entire institution.”
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