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National Aviation Policy announced for modern, safe, efficient air travel
APP
ISLAMABAD - The government on Friday launched a robust and modern National Aviation Policy to improve governance and ensure safe and efficient air travel following a suitable Public Private Partnership models for operations and management.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif launched the policy in a ceremony held here, also attended by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar and Special Assistant on Aviation Shujaat Azeem. The policy has been announced after a gap of 15 years keeping in view the deteriorating growth of the aviation sector that stood at 0.01 comparing India at 1.5 per cent, Thailand at 9.0 per cent, Malayisa 3.6 per cent and Philippines 2.4 per cent. The policy aims at providing level playing field for national airlines and liberalise aviation sector in Pakistan by allowing market forces to determine the price, quality, frequency and range of air services options. The policy marks an important milestone in Pakistan’s aviation history, where the government along with all stakeholders, representing various segments of the aviation industry, collectively developed a comprehensive and forward looking document.
In order to ensure effectiveness and oversight of aviation safety and security, functions of regulatory and service provider shall be made independent of each other in both Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and Airports Security Force. Under the policy, Safety Investigation Board, shall be made independent and report to minister of Aviation to ensure that findings and safety recommendations of an investigation remain unbiased. According to the document, protectionism and restrictive market access policy have suppressed the growth potential of the aviation sector. Transition to more liberal Air Services Agreements, shall accord greater business freedom, higher levels of customer satisfaction and greater micro and macro-economic growth of the aviation domain. Pakistan shall pursue bilateral open skies policy towards other countries based on the principle of reciprocity.
The policy document says that the global trend in participative and cooperative business structures has given credence to the concept of Public-Private Partnership models for operation and management of airports. The private sector would enhance passengers’ travel experience by investing in modernisation of facilities and the government would focus on oversight of the operations and ensure accountability of the services. All major airports like Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi would be outsourced to world renowned foreign companies with Lahore to the first in this regard. This policy shall also be implemented for small, medium and large airports, with a focus to exploit their commercial and tourism potential. It calls for modernizing airport infrastructure to meet future needs of aircraft, passenger and cargo traffic. It includes refurbishment of airport buildings and rehabilitation of airside infrastructure.
The air cargo import and export would further strengthen our business community and help in promoting Pakistani products globally. Two state of the art cargo villages shall be established, one in the North and one in the South. Chief Operating Officers (COO) shall be appointed at major airports. The operational control of all agencies working at airports like ANF, Customs, and Immigration shall be placed under COO for efficient airport operations. Another impediment in growth of air travel and cargo is unjustified taxes and duties, which is hampering investment and not yielding any significant revenue for the government. The policy would ensure rationalisation of duties and taxes in the aviation sector to help attract more businesses, thus resulting in growth of the industry and ensuing benefits to the end-users. Taxes would be restructured and simplified in line with the best international practices. The policy strongly advocates that there should be no taxes and duties on investment in aviation sector.
Tax breaks and exemption of CAA charges shall also attract investors in various sectors of aviation business, including establishment of quality Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) organisations. Recent air crashes and incidents have highlighted the need for stringent checks and procedures. PCAA shall review such procedures and regulations for greater safety and efficiency of air transportation services. The policy shall also encourage induction and operation of more efficient aircraft by Pakistani operators. Such modern aircraft are safer and more fuel efficient. As a measure to ensure that only sound investors/ operators venture in the aviation business, the paid-up capital requirement to obtain relevant licenses has been enhanced. Under Aviation policy, the scheduled routes to politically and socially deprived locations have now ear-marked to be served as deemed adequate and feasible.
The operators shall be offered an attractive incentive by waived-off fees and other allied charges while operating to and from these locations. The policy puts strong emphasis on up-gradation of air navigation infrastructure and effective utilisation of satellite based technology to improve safety standards and future capacity needs of air traffic. In order to capitalise true potential of General Aviation (GA), apart from routine training of aviation personnel, other GA areas like aero-sports, tourism, agricultural pesticide and seeding sprays, cloud seeding, etc. would be encouraged and facilitated wherever considered possible and appropriate. Befitting incentives shall be offered for the growth of this sector. Keeping in view the rapidly changing technology in the aviation industry, training and skill development of aviation personnel has also been given due importance in this policy.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk