Pakistan has taken another step toward strengthening its aviation safety system after the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence approved amendments to the Pakistan Air Safety Investigation Act. The revised legislation will now be presented before the National Assembly for final approval.
Chaired by MNA Fatehullah Khan, the committee endorsed the Pakistan Air Safety Investigation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to address legal and administrative challenges that arose following the merger of the former Aviation Division into the Defence Division in February 2025.
Before discussing the bill, committee members offered Fateha for the martyrs of Pakistan’s armed forces, paying tribute to their sacrifices for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Key Changes Proposed
The amendment bill introduces several reforms aimed at improving Pakistan’s air accident investigation framework, including:
- Renaming the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) to Bureau of Air Safety Investigation Pakistan (BASIP) to reflect its nationwide mandate.
- Upgrading the bureau’s chief position from Director to Director General.
- Easing post-employment restrictions for temporary and part-time investigators to attract experienced aviation professionals, while maintaining stricter rules for permanent staff.
- Allowing the Secretary of Defence to grant exemptions where no conflict of interest exists.
- Introducing summary trials for offences under the law.
- Correcting technical drafting issues in the original 2023 Act.
Skardu Airport Expansion Reviewed
During the meeting, the committee also reviewed progress on the expansion of Skardu Airport, including the extension of the existing terminal and the construction of a new terminal building. Members decided to conduct a site visit to inspect the project’s progress.
Additionally, the Ministry of Defence was directed to submit a detailed progress report at the committee’s next meeting regarding the establishment of free monthly medical camps for civilian communities living near defence installations.
