Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Nadir Shafi Dar, announced on Wednesday that Pakistan plans to export trained pilots to address the shortage of cockpit pilots in the region. Dar shared this development during a press briefing, revealing that the CAA is already working to tackle the issue by preparing surplus pilots to be offered to international airlines.
He emphasized that while Pakistani aviation is focused on meeting the local demand for pilots, any surplus will be made available to foreign carriers. Dar disclosed that two international companies have shown interest in this initiative, with one company already starting Phase 1, which involves ground training for selected Pakistani candidates at its academy in Sharjah. The pilots who complete this phase receive practical flight training, and eight pilots who underwent this training have already begun working with Pakistani private airlines.
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As part of the initiative, the CAA has finalized agreements with various companies to provide comprehensive pilot training programs, covering everything from initial cockpit lessons to full commercial pilot certification. The agreements ensure that trainees will be employed by commercial airlines upon completing their training.
Additionally, Dar shared that efforts are underway to establish local training academies within Pakistan, with plans to finance deserving candidates to complete their pilot training. He also encouraged local flying clubs to enhance their capabilities to meet the growing demand for skilled pilots in the aviation sector. “This initiative will significantly contribute to the growth of Pakistan’s aviation industry,” Dar stated. However, he noted that the cost of initial flying hours for training new pilots ranges between Rs100 million and Rs150 million.
