Askari Air Pakistan: Cabinet may approve cancellation of public transport licence

The Federal Cabinet, in its meeting on Monday (today), is likely to approve cancellation of transport license of M/s Askari Air Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited (AAP), official sources told Business Recorder. AAP was issued regular public transport license on January 2, 2018 valid up to December 6, 2018 with the condition to obtain air operator certificate within a validity period otherwise the amount of security deposit will be forfeited.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed that on November 27, 2018, M/s AAP informed that due to various reasons they have postponed establishment of the airline in Pakistan, hence, decided not to pursue the process of obtaining Air Operator Certificate (AOC) within the prescribed time limit i.e. till December 6, 2018.
Before completion of 365 days, M/s Askari Air has formally requested to cancel their RPT license and to refund their amount of cash security deposit/ bank guarantee held with CAA. As M/s Askari has formally requested to cancel their regular public transport license, therefore, CAA has recommended that the competent authority should accord approval for the cancellation of RPT license of M/s Askari Air.
According to Rule 185(3) of the Civil Aviation Rule 1994, the Director General can suspend a license granted under this part for such a period as he deems fit or may, with approval of the federal government, cancel such license.
Secretary Aviation had approved the RPT license of AAP from 7th December 2017 to December 6, 2018 as per previous practice. The Supreme Court in its judgment, reported as PLD 2016 SC 808, ordered that where the words "federal government" have appeared in the Constitution/ Legislation Acts, for the Federal Cabinet is mandatory.
The amendment to replace the word "Federal Government" with the appropriate authority in the Civil Aviation Ordinance, 1960, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Ordinance 1982 and the Civil Aviation Rules 1994 are under process.