RAWALPINDI: The Aviation Division has constituted a seven-member committee, comprising officials from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), airlines and Airport Security Force (ASF), to ensure implementation of standard operating procedures (SOP) to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at airports.

Members of the committee are Mohammad Adnan Khan, chief operating officer (CEO) Islamabad International Airport (IIA), Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore CEO Akhtar Mirza, Jinnah International Airport Karachi CEO Imran Khan, Bacha Khan International Airport Peshawar CEO Obaidur Rehman Abbasi, Quetta International Airport CEO Mohammad Qasim, Multan International Airport Mubarak Shah and Faisalabad International Airport chief Sultan Humayun Warraich.

All representatives have been directed to ensure compliance of SOPs at each airport and take administrative action against the management in case any violations are observed.

The government has already taken notice of SOP violations by a foreign airliner that took onboard a passenger who had tested positive for Covid-19 hence putting the health of other passengers along with airport personnel in danger.

CAA imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the airline and it will also be responsible for all expenses incurred on testing and quarantine.

According to the authority, one of the passengers with a Covid-19 positive report traveled to Pakistan via the airline. The airline operators have also been directed to ensure compliance to SOP before travel to and from Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2020