Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Friday said that transparent mechanism has now been evolved to ensure the issuance of licenses in a fair manner.

According to the details, Khan told National Assembly today that 82 pilots were dismissed for acquiring fake licenses. He said that efforts are underway to improve the financial health of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by reducing its losses through various means.

He said loss making routes have been closed and flights on profitable routes have been added which has resulted in reduction of losses. He added that, ‘there is no plan to privatize any of the assets of PIA’.

He said that an agreement to this effect has also been signed with the UK Civil Aviation Authority. He said the International Civil Aviation Authority will carry out an audit of our Civil Aviation Authority in July this year. Adding that, ‘this will lead to removal of travel restrictions on the PIA in the European countries and that the airline will regain its past glory.’

He said that eight new planes will be inducted in the fleet of PIA to further improve its performance.