ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has opened criminal investigations into 50 pilots and at least five civil aviation officials who allegedly helped them falsify credentials to secure licenses, according to two senior government sources and cabinet meeting minutes seen by Reuters.
The probes come roughly three months after Pakistan grounded dozens of pilots over allegedly dubious qualifications. At the time, the civil aviation regulator said it would conduct a detailed investigation into the scandal.
On the government's orders, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched criminal probes into the matter, according to minutes from Tuesday's cabinet meeting and the sources, who declined to be named because the discussions are private.
A show-cause notice served to one of the pilots and seen by Reuters said the FIA was investigating "alleged corruption, violations, malpractices in (the) issuance of flight crew licenses."
Munir Ahmed Shaikh, a senior FIA official, confirmed that a probe into the matter was ongoing, but declined to comment any further. The civil aviation ministry declined to comment until the government makes the matter public.
The ministry submitted the findings of its inquiry to the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, said the sources, adding that another 32 pilots have separately been suspended for a year.
"The cabinet was told that FIA has opened proceedings into the pilots whose licenses were revoked, and the civil aviation officials who connived with them," said the minutes from the meeting seen by Reuters.
The pilot scandal has tainted Pakistan's aviation industry and especially flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which has been barred from flying to Europe and the United States after dozens of its pilots were named in the initial list of 262 with allegedly "dubious" licenses.
That list had been made public after an initial probe into a PIA plane crash in Karachi in May found that the pilots did not follow standard procedures and disregarded alarms.
The initial list sparked controversy however, as PIA and the local pilots association noted that many of the pilots named had long since retired and some were even deceased.
Reuters was unable to establish whether the remaining 180 pilots on the initial list were still under investigation or if they had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
A spokesman for PALPA, the local pilots' association, said it had no clarity on the status of the probe. A spokesman for PIA said the airline was awaiting details.
Pakistan opens criminal probes into 50 pilots, 5 civil aviation officials — sources
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Pakistan opens criminal probes into 50 pilots, 5 civil aviation officials — sources
- Probes come roughly three months after Pakistan grounded dozens of pilots over allegedly dubious qualifications
- A show-cause notice served to one of the pilots said the FIA was investigating 'alleged corruption, violations, malpractices in (the) issuance of flight crew licenses'
Pakistan parliament adopts unanimous resolution against Israel’s ‘heinous wave of atrocities’ in Gaza
- Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presents resolution seeking immediate Gaza ceasefire, resumption of aid to Palestinians
- Gaza’s health ministry says at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed since Mar. 18 when Israel resumed military attacks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution condemning Israel’s “heinous wave of atrocities” in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinian citizens and demanding an immediate ceasefire in the territory, state-run media reported.
Gaza’s health ministry said on Sunday that at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed since Mar. 18 when a shaky ceasefire between Hamas and Israel broke down, taking the overall death toll since the war began in October 2023 to 50,944.
The resolution was moved by Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar during a session of the lower house of parliament. The resolution noted that the latest Israeli offensive has resulted in the killing of over 1500 Palestinians, rebuking the destruction of complete civil infrastructure in Gaza including houses, hospitals, schools and places of worship.
“The National Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution, once again strongly condemning the ongoing heinous wave of atrocities by the Zionist Israeli regime in Gaza,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The National Assembly expressed “unwavering solidarity” with the people of Palestine, reaffirming their inalienable right to self-determination and an independent motherland.
The resolution also expressed dismay at the international community’s failure to halt Israeli aggression, calling urgently for an immediate, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. It also demanded uninterrupted and sustainable humanitarian assistance to besieged and beleaguered Palestinians in the territory.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the entire Pakistani nation stands united when it comes to Palestine. He pointed out that Pakistan has a unique distinction on its passport, which does not allow its holders to travel to Israel.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has frequently criticized the Jewish state for its military operations in Gaza. Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and the need for a revival of negotiations leading to a two-state solution.
Islamabad consistently calls for an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Pakistan to vaccinate over 45 million children against polio in nationwide campaign in April
- Over 400,000 volunteers to participate in nationwide polio drive from Apr. 21-27, says health minister
- Stresses cooperation among federal, provincial governments and global partners to eliminate polio
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will vaccinate over 45 million children against poliovirus in April in its second nationwide campaign against the disease this year, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Monday, as Islamabad intensifies efforts to rid the country of the infection.
Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure and multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine — along with completing the routine immunization schedule for children under five — are crucial to building immunity against the virus.
Pakistan, which has reported six polio cases so far in 2025, has planned three major vaccination campaigns in the first half of the year, with additional rounds scheduled for April and May.
“The second national polio campaign of the year is scheduled from Apr. 21 to 27 nationwide,” Kamal said while chairing a high-level meeting on polio eradication, which was attended by provincial health ministers.
“Over 400,000 trained polio workers will participate, aiming to administer polio vaccination drops to over 45 million children.”
Kamal lamented that Karachi’s sewage samples continued to test positive for poliovirus. The minister directed authorities to formulate a strategy for the nationwide polio campaign, highlighting that a “coordinated approach” was essential to completely eradicate the disease.
The minister stressed the importance of cooperation among federal and provincial governments, as well as international partners, to ensure the success of polio eradication efforts.
Pakistan’s polio program, launched in 1994, has faced persistent challenges including vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim immunization is a foreign conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a guise for Western espionage. Militant groups have also repeatedly targeted and killed polio vaccination workers.
In 2024, Pakistan reported an alarming 74 polio cases. Along with Afghanistan, it remains one of the only two countries where polio is still endemic.
Pakistan, Morocco kick off joint counterterror exercise to promote military ties
- Exercise’s third edition aimed at refining professional skills of both armies, says Pakistan military’s media wing
- Pakistan enjoys cordial relations and cooperation in trade, defense and other sectors with various Arab nations
ISLAMABAD: The armies of Pakistan and Morocco kicked off the third edition of their joint bilateral military exercise on Monday, the Pakistani military’s media wing said, stressing that the drill was aimed at enhancing professional skills of their soldiers and promoting defense relations between the two countries.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties and strong defense relations with Arab countries, which often causes them both to engage in frequent training exercises, defense production collaborations and counter-terrorism intelligence sharing.
“Opening Ceremony of 3rd Pak-Morocco Joint Bilateral Military Exercise-2025 was held between the Armies of Pakistan and Morocco in counter terrorism domain at Special Operations School, Cherat,” the Inter-Services Public Relations, (ISPR) the army’s media wing, said in a statement.
Cherat is a hill station located northwestern Pakistan’s Nowshera district.
Pakistan’s Special Services Group and the Moroccan Army’s special forces are taking part in the exercise, the statement confirmed.
“The exercise is aimed at refining professional skills through joint training and harnessing historic military to military relations among the friendly countries,” the ISPR said.
The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Morocco is marked by cordial ties and historic fraternity, according to Pakistan’s foreign office.
In November last year, Moroccan Air Force Inspector Major General Mohammed Gadih expressed his interest in collaborating with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the aerospace sector.
During his visit, the Pakistani air chief reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing military ties with Morocco through joint training programs, including those at the basic and tactical levels, for Moroccan Air Force personnel.
Pakistan Navy inducts offshore patrol vessel with advanced stealth features and weapons in fleet
- PNS Yamama’s induction to enhance navy’s seaward defense, protect sea lines of communication, says Pakistan Navy
- Offshore patrol vessel to ensure protection of maritime infrastructure, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy inducted a fourth offshore patrol vessel (OPV) named PNS Yamama in its fleet on Monday, describing it as a ship equipped with modern stealth features and sophisticated weapons that enables it to function in a multi-threat environment.
PNS Yamama was constructed at the Damen Shipyard in Romania. The multi-purpose ship is equipped with modern stealth features, the latest command and control systems, and sophisticated weapons and sensors, the navy said in a statement. A ceremony to officially induct the OPV was held at the Jinnah Naval Base in the southwestern town of Ormara in the presence of government officials, local dignitaries and senior Pakistan Navy officers.
“As the fourth in the series, the induction of this state-of-the-art ship significantly enhances Pakistan Navy’s capability to ensure seaward defense, protect sea lines of communication and maintain order at sea,” the statement said.
The development highlights Pakistan Navy’s enhanced reach on the western seaboard, providing flexibility in its fleet operations, enhancing maritime security and its ability to contribute to regional peace and stability, it added.
PNS Yamama’s induction would also ensure protection of vital maritime infrastructure, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar Chinese infrastructure project that connects Pakistan’s Gwadar city to China’s Xinjiang province.
Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf highlighted the precarious geo-strategic environment in the Indian Ocean, stressing the need for a potent naval force to counter emerging traditional and non-traditional challenges, the statement said.
“He reiterated that the addition of PNS Yamama to the PN fleet would significantly enhance Pakistan Navy’s capability to safeguard the maritime frontiers of Pakistan and reinforce its commitment to ensuring safety and security in international waters,” it said.
Besides inducting various warships in its fleet, Pakistan Navy has held several joint exercises with friendly nations in recent years in a bid to enhance joint operational capabilities and strengthen regional security.
Pakistan should reinforce trade partnerships with China, Middle East amid tariff row— think tank
- Islamabad was slapped with 29 percent tariff rate this month before Trump temporarily suspended decision days later
- Think tank urges Pakistan to diversify exports markets, collaborate with countries facing similar tariff challenges
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan should diversify its markets for exports, collaborate with other countries to formulate a multilateral response to Washington and reinforce existing trade partnerships with China and the Middle East in response to tariffs imposed by the United States, a Karachi-based independent think tank said recently.
US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on several countries on Apr. 2, defending the measures as necessary to address long-standing trade imbalances and what he described as unfair treatment of American goods abroad. Islamabad would have been slapped with a 29 percent tariff rate before Trump walked back on the announcement on Apr. 9, pausing it for 90 days. A 10 percent blanket duty on almost all US imports will remain in effect.
A study by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) entitled ‘Impact of Unilateral Tariff Increase by United States on Pakistani Exports’ said this month when added to the existing 8.6 percent Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff, the total duty after the imposition of the 29 percent tariff could reach 37.6 percent. This would likely result in a 20-25 percent decline in Pakistani exports to the US, translating into an annual loss of $1.1-1.4 billion, with the textile sector bearing the brunt of the blow.
“Pakistan should work on diversifying its export markets to reduce dependency on the US market,” the Policy Research & Advisory Council, (PRAC) an independent think tank that says it provides input for policies and advocates for economic and business interests, said in its report titled “An Analysis of US Tariff Barriers Impacting Pakistan’s Trade.”
“Establishing trade agreements with emerging economies such as Africa or the Central Asian Republics (CARs), or reinforcing existing partnerships, like those with China or the Middle East, could mitigate the risks of trade losses due to tariff hikes,” it added.
Pakistan has strengthened its business-to-business (B2B) ties with the Kingdom in recent months, with both sides announcing in October 2024 they had signed 34 memoranda of understanding and agreements worth $2.8 billion to enhance private sector collaboration and commercial partnerships.
China, on the other hand, has invested billions in an infrastructure and energy corridor project that connects China’s Xinjiang province to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port via a network of highways, railways, and pipelines.
PRAC advised Pakistan to collaborate with other nations facing similar tariff challenges, such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, urging it to formulate a multilateral response to Washington’s tariffs.
“This approach could involve coordinated advocacy at international trade forums, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), to mitigate the broader global impact of US tariff policies and promote fairer trade practices,” it said.
Pakistan’s textile industry is expected to face significant challenges from the tariffs, with potential losses of up to $2 billion in exports estimated by experts if the 29 percent tariff rate is reinstated.
The think tank urged Islamabad to leverage its competitive advantage in sectors such as wearing apparel, woven fabrics, food products and non-metal wastes where tariff increases for Pakistan are lower compared to Vietnam and Bangladesh.
It pointed out that when it comes to textile yarn, threads and carpets, despite higher tariffs Pakistan still holds an edge over Vietnam. However, sectors such as medical equipment, plastics and rubber tires benefit from smaller tariff hikes, offering growth potential.
“By focusing on these sectors, Pakistan can enhance its export basket and capture greater market share,” the report said.
PRAC advised Pakistan to reduce its reliance on a “narrow” export basket, improve production efficiencies to secure new markets to mitigate the impact of rising tariffs and safeguard its existing exports.
“Implementing these measures will not only protect the country’s trade interests but also position it for greater resilience and competitiveness in the global market,” it concluded.
