Minister defends PIA safety record

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday dismissed “baseless propaganda” surrounding Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), its flight safety record and operational performance, asserting that the national carrier was fully compliant with both domestic and international aviation standards.

In a statement posted on X, the minister said, “Safety is non-negotiable, but unqualified people cannot dictate it in the presence of Pakistani and international regulators”.

He stressed that PIA’s flight operations strictly adhere to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and global safety protocols.