ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has warned local airline operators to abide by the safety protocols notified by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates to prevent the coronavirus spread or face “stern action,” said a PCAA spokesperson on Tuesday.
The GCAA has asked airline operators to create quarantine areas on their flights “for the exclusive sitting of suspected or symptomatic person(s).”
It also told them to ensure safe distance between passengers in the quarantine zone and other people on the flight to avoid cross-infection.
The GCAA guidelines also require airlines to designate a “buffer zone” for cabin crew members where they can wear or take off their personal protective equipment.
“The latest directives from Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to local airlines come after the GCAA issued two safety assessment reports that mentioned violations of safety protocols,” the PCAA spokesperson told Arab News.
He said that despite clear guidelines “no compliance by the operators have been observed.”
“Operator shall seat passengers and cabin crew throughout the cabin to comply, as much as practical, with physical and safe distancing principle. Passengers should be seated with at least one empty seat between each other. Alternatively, when separation not possible, the use of face masks become mandatory for passengers,” the GCCA guidelines say.
“The GCCA communicated to us that airline operators were not following the instructions in letter and spirit,” said the PCAA official. “Hence, we decided to issue directives to our airlines to fully follow the UAE authority’s COVID-19 guidelines,” the PCCA spokesman continued.
He said that future violations would “lead to stern action by the PCAA,” which may include withdrawal of permission to operate to and from UAE airports.
The PCAA notification issued late last week said “such violations are ignominious not only for the operator but also for the state and the regulator.”
On August 5, the UAE lifted a ban on transit passenger traffic from Pakistan, India, Nigeria and other countries.
However, it still requires travelers from these countries to present negative COVID-19 PCR tests about 48 hours before their departure.
To facilitate Pakistani passengers traveling to the UAE, Pakistan set up rapid COVID-19 testing facilities at all the international airports of the country.
Over 1.6 million Pakistani expatriates live in the UAE and work in different public and private sector organizations, remitting over $4 billion annually to the South Asian nation.
Pakistan tells airline operators to observe UAE pandemic guidelines or face ‘stern action’
https://arab.news/4498u
Pakistan tells airline operators to observe UAE pandemic guidelines or face ‘stern action’
- UAE authorities asked airline operators to create a quarantine zone for suspected or symptomatic people on their flights
- Pakistan says any violation of the notified guidelines may lead to a withdrawal of permission to operate to and from UAE airports
Pakistan plans 3,000 EV charging stations as green mobility push gathers pace
- Roadmap unveiled by energy efficiency regulator and a private conglomerate amid early-stage EV rollout
- New EV Policy and related plans aim to install 3,000 EV stations by 2030, including 240 stations in current fiscal year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s energy efficiency regulator and a private conglomerate have unveiled an approved roadmap to establish 3,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Tuesday.
The announcement comes as Pakistan looks to build out basic EV charging infrastructure, which remains limited and unevenly distributed, largely concentrated in major cities. Despite policy commitments to promote electric mobility as part of climate and energy-efficiency goals, the absence of a nationwide charging network has slowed broader EV adoption.
Pakistan’s EV ecosystem is still at a formative stage, with progress constrained by regulatory approvals, grid connectivity issues and coordination challenges among utilities, regulators and fuel retailers. Expanding charging infrastructure is widely seen as a prerequisite for scaling electric transport for both private and commercial use.
According to APP, the roadmap was presented during a meeting between Malik Group Chief Executive Officer Malik Khuda Baksh and National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Managing Director and Additional Secretary Humayon Khan.
“Baksh ... in a meeting with Khan, unveiled the approved roadmap for establishing 3,000 electric vehicle charging stations across Pakistan,” APP reported. “Khan reaffirmed the authority’s full institutional backing and pledged to expand the initiative to 6,000 EV charging stations nationwide.”
The discussion reviewed hurdles delaying the rollout, including EV charger imports, customs duties, regulatory documentation and inter-agency coordination.
APP said Khan welcomed the proposal and sought recommendations for “internationally compliant EV charger brands,” while asking for a detailed “issue-and-solutions report within three days” to facilitate timely implementation of the national green mobility initiative.
Despite the issuance of 13 licenses by NEECA and the arrival of five EV charging units at designated sites, progress has been slowed by procedural bottlenecks, officials said. These include delays in electricity connections, prolonged installation of separate meters and pending no-objection certificates from power distribution companies and oil marketing firms, which continue to stall operational readiness.
Pakistan’s electric vehicle ecosystem is still in its early stages, with charging infrastructure far behind levels seen in more advanced markets. The government’s New Energy Vehicle Policy and related plans aim to install 3,000 EV charging stations by 2030, including 240 stations planned in the current fiscal year, but actual deployment remains limited and uneven, mostly clustered in major cities and along key urban corridors.
Despite regulatory backing, including the 2024 Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure and Battery Swapping Stations framework, progress has been slow. Many proposed stations have yet to become operational due to delays in grid connections and approvals, and public maps of nationwide charging coverage are not yet available.
Private players are beginning to install more chargers, and there are over 20 public EV charging points reported in urban centers, offering both slower AC chargers and faster DC options. However, such infrastructure is still sparse compared with the growing number of electric vehicles and the government’s long-term targets.
