UK Authority approves Pakistan airport security standards

Celina Ali 

Islamabad: A three-member delegation from the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport (DfT) completed a comprehensive security assessment at Islamabad International Airport, declaring Pakistan’s aviation security protocols as “satisfactory” and aligned with international benchmarks, according to a spokesperson for the Airport Security Force (ASF).

The UK team arrived on July 8 for a three-day evaluation and was accompanied by a representative of the British High Commission. Their visit began with an introductory meeting attended by the airport’s Chief Security Officer and key stakeholders from relevant departments.

Participants in the briefing included representatives from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), ASF, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), British Airways, Air Blue, catering services such as Kitchen Cuisine, Ras Menzies, and others involved in airport operations.

The inspection covered a broad range of security measures, including personnel deployment, internal checks, passenger screening, issuance of entry passes, vehicle and staff monitoring, surveillance systems, perimeter defenses, quick response unit readiness, drone countermeasures, and emergency response protocols. The UK team also evaluated onboard catering and flight handling services.

At the end of their assessment, the inspectors praised the ASF’s efforts to ensure the safety and security of air travelers.

Separately, a Saudi Arabian team is scheduled to conduct a security audit at seven major Pakistani airports, starting in August. These include airports in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Multan.

According to PCAA spokesperson Shahid Qadir, the audit was initiated by the Director General of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), who contacted Pakistan’s DG of the Civil Aviation Authority, Nadir Shafi Dar, to request the evaluation.

The Saudi delegation will collaborate with the PCAA’s Directorate of Aviation Security (AvSec), which will facilitate the audit. Visits are planned for both August and October this year.

These developments come as Pakistan’s aviation sector shows strong performance on international indices. The country recently achieved an 86.73% score in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP), surpassing the global average of 71% and India’s 73%.