March 5, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 1, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 4: The European Commission (EC), which is the executive arm of the European Union, has initiated implementation of a project to increase cooperation with Pakistan in civil aviation through exchange of knowledge and partnership.

A press release issued here on Tuesday said the project amounting Euro 30 million (Rs1.6 billion) was part of a regional initiative aimed at improving cooperation in civil aviation between the EU and Asian countries, including Pakistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, the Philippines and Thailand.

The project is jointly funded by the European Commission and AECMA (European Association of Aerospace Industries). It will be managed by the AECMA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan.

The objectives of the project are to improve safety of civil air transportation in Pakistan and other Asian countries and to enhance EU-Pakistan industrial cooperation and business links in the civil aviation sector.

The project is centred on human resource development and technical assistance in aviation safety and encompasses both the regulatory and operational sectors in Pakistan.

The activities will cover subjects ranging from regulatory matters to key operational issues such as airworthiness and safety oversight, maintenance and assurance of quality, and air traffic management.

The project will enhance the capacity of the country’s aviation companies to compete in the civil aviation industry.