US team visits Islamabad airport to assess security standards

ISLAMABAD: The United States Embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday said that officials from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US visited the new Islamabad airport to assess the aviation security infrastructure of the country.

During the visit, the US officials also met authorities from the Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), and the Ministry of Aviation to review the security standards being implemented at the new airport. 

However, the embassy cautioned that the country had no immediate plans to resume direct PIA flights to the US. In a tweet posted on Tuesday, the PIA had said that the team was visiting Pakistan to resume direct flights. 

"Good news might be around the corner! The US Transport Safety Administration (TSA) team, on PIAs request, is in Pakistan to assess the on-ground services, facilities & security measures for PIA's direct flights to the US Mainland," the PIA said.

"PIA team has worked hard to conform with TSA standards and is hopeful that with the approval, for the first time in Pakistan's history, PIA will operate non stop flights to the US. CAA & ASF are fully supporting this endeavor. Wish us luck," the PIA added.

Local media reported that the team will also visit Jinnah International Airport Karachi and Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore to assess the security standards there. 

This trip was organized as part of the US Mission to Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties and air connectivity between the United States and Pakistan. The United States remains committed to partnering with Pakistan for a prosperous future, the US embassy said on the occasion.