RAWALPINDI: The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s audit team has proposed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to postpone its scheduled visit in the summer to Pakistan due to a surge in the coronavirus cases.

The ICAO had planned a on-site activity in Pakistan under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) from July 5 to 15, which had been accepted by Pakistan. However, the CAA has suggested to the ICAO not to postpone the visit saying the Pakistani team will be vaccinated against Covid-19.

When contacted, Deputy Director General Regulatory Nadir Shafi Dar said the ICAO’s audit team had proposed to postpone its scheduled visit to Pakistan in July due to the sharp rise in the coronavirus cases in Pakistan.

He said: “If the scheduled visit of summer is postponed, it would possibly be held from October to December.”

Mr Dar said the CAA had proposed to the ICAO’s team not to postpone their scheduled visit to Pakistan in summer, share the concerned data and other required things online.

He also said the ICAO’s team which comprised citizens of different nationalities had been assured that all of the CAA officials coordinating with them during their visit would be vaccinated against Covid-19.

When the ICAO’s communications officer, William Raillant-Clark, was contacted through an email for comments, he didn’t reply till the filing of this report.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2021