The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has suspended licenses of 34 more pilots of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for holding fake degrees.

According to a notification issued by the CAA, licenses will remain suspended till the inquiry against the pilots has not been completed.

Separately, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ordered its member states to bar Pakistani pilots from working.

According to the details, EASA has asked its member countries for details of Pakistani pilots. The letter sent to the member states by EASA stated that the CAA has revealed irregularities in the issuance of 40% of licences.

Moreover, EASA in its letter recommended member states ‘not to schedule such pilots for operations performed under their TCO consideration’.

The letter stated that this is a matter of concern in the aviation industry. It further stated that complaints have been received about fake licences in contravention of international rules and regulations.

A month earlier, Pakistan said it would ground 262 airline pilots whose credentials may have been falsified after global airlines body International Air Transport Association said that irregularities found in pilot licences at PIA represent a ‘serious lapse’ in safety controls.

Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had said 40% of the country’s pilots held “dubious licenses”.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has also suspended PIA’s authorization to fly to the bloc for six months.

The UAE had also demanded that Pakistan clarify which of the personnel had fake licenses and who were suspects.