On Thursday, Transport Canada Aviation Security inspectors completed their security evaluation of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and praised the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) for its security measures, noting that they meet international standards and best practices.
According to a PCAA spokesman, the assessment was led by Transport Canada Aviation Inspectors Barbara Durette and Abdel Tahir and was hosted by the PCAA, with oversight from Avsec Director, retired Air Commodore Shahid Qadir.
During their review, the Canadian team evaluated various security aspects at the airport, including passenger and baggage screening, perimeter protection, cargo and catering security, and protocols for direct flights to Canada. They also examined the security measures for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Toronto, assessing access control, aircraft protection, and related procedures.
Following the assessment, a debriefing session was held at the PCAA, where the Canadian team was presented with crests and gifts by Deputy Director General Nadir Shafi Dar on behalf of aviation secretary, retired Capt Saif Anjum. The team expressed their appreciation for the warm hospitality and praised the airport’s security protocols for their adherence to international standards.
The assessment was deemed successful, complementing previous evaluations by the ICAO USAP Audit and GCAA-UAE.
In related news, PIA is set to launch direct flights to Jeddah from Faisalabad and Quetta, starting August 6, to better serve residents of these cities. The airline is also offering a 15% discount on tickets for Umrah pilgrims traveling from Toronto to Saudi Arabia via Lahore. This discount, applicable to tickets purchased from July, is valid for travel between August and November 15 this year. The new flights will operate twice weekly from each city to Jeddah, providing a more convenient travel option compared to previous connections through Lahore, Karachi, or Islamabad.
