Pakistan – The Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOOA) Pakistan has called on the country's Ministry of Defence Aviation Division to review foreign pilot recruitment policies, raising concerns over domestic pilot unemployment and airline investment in local training. In a letter dated October 29, 2026, association founder Imran Aslam Khan questioned the reliance of Pakistani airlines on foreign flight crews while locally qualified pilots remain unemployed, calling for greater investment in aircraft type ratings and airline transition training.

The association estimates that approximately 1,500 Pakistani pilots are unemployed while domestic airlines employ more than 150 foreign pilots. These figures represent AOOA's assessment and have not been independently verified against official employment or licensing statistics.
AOOA claims that foreign pilots are receiving tax-free salaries of up to US$15,000 per month, estimating total foreign exchange outflows exceeding US$2.25 million monthly. The association argues that greater investment in training and type-rating Pakistani pilots could provide an alternative to international recruitment.
The association has challenged changes to foreign pilot licensing arrangements. In January 2025, Pakistan's federal cabinet approved a two-year extension of licence validation for 86 foreign pilots already working in the country and three-year validation for new foreign pilots joining during 2025. The government attributed the earlier reliance on foreign pilots partly to COVID-19 disruptions and restrictions affecting Pakistani pilots.
AOOA has requested that the Aviation Division review the extended validation arrangements, strengthen oversight of foreign crew rotations and introduce measures encouraging domestic airlines to prioritise the recruitment and training of qualified Pakistani pilots.
The issue comes amid continued recruitment of internationally experienced flight crews by Pakistani carriers. Air Arabia Group's recruitment portal advertised an Airbus A320 Captain position for Fly Jinnah on November 1, 2026, restricted to eligible foreign nationals. The position offers a renewable 15-month contract, comprising approximately three months of initial training followed by 12 months of flying duties, and requires at least 4,000 total flight hours, including 800 hours as pilot-in-command on the A320.
AFM previously reported that Air Arabia launched an A320 pilot recruitment campaign covering Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in November 2025, including Captain and First Officer positions for Fly Jinnah. The campaign included fixed-term contracts for Karachi-based pilots.

About Aircraft Owners and Operators Association Pakistan
Established in 2021, the Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOOA) Pakistan is an aviation industry representative organisation formed to advocate for aircraft owners, operators and the development of the country's aviation sector. Founded by Imran Aslam Khan, the association engages with government authorities on aviation regulation, aircraft ownership, industry investment and policies affecting general and commercial aviation operations.

Source: Aircraft Owners and Operators Association Pakistan

Asian Industry Body Seeks Review of Three-Year Foreign Pilot Licence Validation Policy

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