PILAP advocated for reform of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority by highlighting the conflict of interest created when the same institution acted both as an aviation regulator as well as a service provider.

The initiative raised concerns over a serious regulatory flaw, where the head of a national airline served on the board of the very authority responsible for overseeing aviation safety. Such an arrangement called into question the independence of regulatory oversight and accident investigations, particularly where government bodies and regulated entities appeared to be involved in monitoring themselves.

PILAP wrote and met with the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Aviation,  raised concerns around regulatory independence, transparency, and accountability, especially where regulated entities and government representatives were involved in the Authority’s governance structure.

These concerns formed part of a wider reform discussion that ultimately led to the separation of the CAA’s regulatory and service delivery functions. In 2023, the Government created the Pakistan Airports Authority to manage airport service functions, while regulatory responsibilities such as licensing, flight standards, airworthiness, and air transport oversight remained with the CAA.

This marked an important step toward stronger institutional accountability, independent oversight, and improved governance in Pakistan’s aviation sector. Through this initiative, PILAP called for greater transparency, institutional reform, and stronger safeguards to ensure that air travel oversight in Pakistan remains independent, accountable, and effective.