Open sky policy withdrawn

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet Tuesday approved a new Civil Aviation Policy for promotion of tourism and aviation industry in the country.

The cabinet deliberated on starting helicopter and 40-seater plane service to the tourist sites.

The open sky policy is being withdrawn and now foreigners will no longer need No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to move in the country.

The cabinet also approved removal of restrictions on construction of high-rises in Islamabad.

Briefing the media about the decisions made in the cabinet meeting earlier held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said traveling to the tourist resorts will be facilitated by reducing expenditures.

He noted that a pilot project had been kicked off, as a result of which visitors from five countries — the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China and Malaysia — were getting e-visa services.

Under the new visa policy, visa-on-arrival will also be provided to Indian-origin British and American citizens holding United States or United Kingdom passports.

"After this month, 170 more countries will get e-visa facilities and 58 countries will be able to get visas on arrival at the airport," the minister said.

Fawad also noted that the interior ministry had earlier in the day issued a notification stating that its NOC regime had ended. As a result, if foreign tourists come to Pakistan and want to visit Gilgit-Baltistan, they will not require prior approval from the authorities.

Chaudhary said that taking this initiative further, taxes and related levies had been reduced to zero for aviation services using a maximum of 40-seater airplanes, which includes helicopters, for the purpose of ferrying people to tourism resorts and other areas of tourist interest.

"This will mean that if you start aviation services [to and from areas] like Gilgit Baltistan, Swat and other areas that are earmarked [as tourist sites], the CAA will not levy any charges," he said.

Additionally, he said the maximum allowed lifespan of planes meant to be used as commercial transport had been increased from 12 years to 18, while for cargo planes the maximum lifespan had been extended to 30 years. "This means now you can import up to a 30-year-old plane [for cargo purposes]. Previously, you could import only a 12-year-old plane. For passenger [aircraft], you can now import an 18-year-old plane," he said.

Chaudhry also added that the previous government’s ‘open sky policy’ was being wrapped up, as it had caused a lot of damage to the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) after important air routes were auctioned off. He added that the CAA had decided that it will not charge any taxes on the meal costs of flight kitchens, which he said would hopefully increase the quality of food offered in flights.

Chaudhary also said Finance Minister Asad Umar had agreed to sit and devise a policy along with the CAA's recommendations so that taxes on domestic flights can be reduced in order to make domestic travel cheaper.

He said TPT licenses had been extended to two years and that pilot license validity had been extended to five years. "The fundamental purpose [of this move] is that the aviation industry benefits and tourist areas are facilitated," he said. "Tourism will not develop in these difficult areas if travel facilities provided are not up to par," Chaudhary noted.

The minister also said a special initiative for women and girls who wanted to become pilots had been introduced, as a result of which the CAA will cover Rs0.4 million of the fees if a girl wants to train to become a pilot.

The federal cabinet has approved Rs2 billion Ramazan package to provide relief to the people.

He said the cabinet decided to extend Lahore-Delhi Bus Service for another five years to facilitate the divided families.

Speaking about the Kartarpur Corridor, the minister informed media persons that the corridor will be opened in November this year to travel to the Kartarpur shrine.

He said in order to ensure the required arrangements and facilitate the Sikh pilgrims, a new 10-member Pakistan Gurdawara Parbandhak Committee had been constituted.

Answering a question about opening Sharda Temple corridor in Azad Kashmir, the minister said Pakistan will wait for the Indian request about it.

The minister said the cabinet also decided to lift ban on high- rises in Islamabad and any builder wanting to construct skyscrapers in the federal cabinet will not have to obtain permission from CDA or Civil Aviation Authority.