Why Pakistan Must Prioritise Its Own Pilots Over Foreign Flight Crews
Opinion
This is written by Imran Aslam Khan, an Aviation Professional and Businessman.
Refrence AOOA/015/2026
29 October 2026
The Secretary Defence (Aviation Division),
Ministry of Defence,
Government of Pakistan,
Rawalpindi.
Dear Sir,
Subject: Request for Immediate Intervention Regarding the Influx of Foreign Pilots and Resulting Unemployment of Pakistani Aviators
Reference is made to our earlier letter of even number dated 06 May 2026(attached).
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I am writing to you on behalf of the Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOOA) Pakistan to formally bring to your urgent attention a matter of grave concern that directly impacts national economic interests, the survival of our domestic aviation industry, and the future of hundreds of qualified Pakistani Pilots.
It has become increasingly evident that domestic airlines are systematically prioritizing the employment of foreign flight crews over qualified and certified local pilots. This practice has led to widespread unemployment among our educated youth, while simultaneously draining our country's critical foreign exchange reserves. Airlines are currently paying tax-free monthly salaries of up to USD 15,000 per foreign pilot, a sum that could employ multiple local aviators at a fraction of the cost.
Historically, clear and strict regulatory policies permitted foreign flight crews exclusively on wet-leased aircraft for a maximum duration of six months, with a single six-month extension. This policy had no exceptions and protected local talent.
However, a sudden amendment was recently enacted without consulting key domestic industry stakeholders. This regulatory shift extended the permissible duration for foreign pilots to three years. Furthermore, due to an exploitation loophole where airlines can rotate incoming foreign crews, these terms have effectively turned into a never-ending cycle that permanently blocks local growth.
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Currently, airlines such as Airblue, Fly Jinnah, and Air Sial are heavily utilizing foreign pilots. These carriers are bypassing the initial training and type-rating costs required to onboard young Pakistani aviators to achieve immediate short-term cost-cutting. Ironically, the training costs required for a local pilot equate to less than a single month of a foreign pilot's salary, yet carriers remain unwilling to invest in cultivating national talent.
I am stressed to write that about 1500 Pakistani Pilots are jobless and yet the local careers have hired more than 150 foreign pilots, draining more than USD 2.25 Million(PKR 623,250,000) per month from a much needed foreign exchequer for nothing.
How the airlines does money laundering is a separate issue which I will explain separately and with evidence of this corporate crime.
With hundreds of certified Pakistani pilots currently facing unemployment, domestic airlines have a clear, immediate opportunity to absorb this skilled workforce and stimulate local economic growth. Keeping our national talent grounded while relying on expensive foreign labor directly undermines the national interest and needlessly depletes vital foreign exchange reserves and prevents the growth of General Aviation in the country which is a disaster in the making.
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In light of the above, the AOOA Pakistan respectfully requests the Aviation Division, Ministry of Defence to intervene immediately. We urge your office to:
1. Re-evaluate and reverse the recent regulatory amendments that extended foreign crew durations to three years.
2. Enforce strict regulatory oversight to close loopholes regarding the rotation of foreign flight crews.
3. Mandate domestic airlines to prioritize the hiring and training of qualified Pakistani pilots before seeking foreign alternatives.
We trust that under your leadership, the Ministry will take decisive action to protect the future of Pakistan's aviation sector and ensure justice for our local talent. We are available for a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss this critical matter further.
Yours sincerely,
Imran Aslam Khan
Founder,
Aircraft Owners & Operators Association (AOOA) Pakistan
CC: Chief Coordinator (Aviation),MoD, Rawalpindi
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The article is written by Imran Aslam Khan, an Aviation Professional and Businessman.
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