LAHORE - Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) plans to establish its own flying clubs in collaboration with the main airports officials to groom pilots for catering to the needs of Pakistan as well as other countries including Middle East states, Director General CAA, Farooq Rehmat Ullah told The Nation here on Tuesday in a telephonic interview. According to him, a proposal in this regard is in an advanced stage. The PC-1 has been formed and the project would be launched after it is approved by the Board of Directors. He said that about eight non-functional airports would be used for this scheme. Responding to a question he said: At present our efforts are focused on restructuring CAA Pakistan's vast functions and processes in strict adherence to the standards maintained by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'. Stressing that we have strengthened CAA Pakistan's domain of operations, which include the vital function of regulation of aircraft, air navigation services and airport services management, he asserted that by working in partnership with transportation stakeholders, our goal is to develop and administer aviation policies and activities that ensure the safest and the most efficient, secure and sustainable air transportation system. According to him, as Pakistan strategically located at the junction of South Asia, Central Asia, and Middle East region, it is alive to its tremendous potential because of its geographical location. As part of our new vision for CAA Pakistan, we will strive to keep pace with the growing demand of the local aviation industry whilst effectively taking advantage of geo political situation which requires to become a regional hub so that it can also open new air routes through its air corridor northwards to China and Central Asian Republics, and towards the South to the Middle East and the African Continent. It already provides natural corridor of air traffic from west to east and east to west utilizing Pakistan's tremendous potential to participate in the current aviation driven global economic boom. Restructuring of CAA has been carried out with full participation and ownership of CAA staff focusing on three core areas namely 'Regulatory" (with enhanced capability), 'Air Navigation Services' (with improved Airspace Management capability) and Airport services' (focusing on commercialization of its assets and land with improved customer/passenger service standards, benchmarked with top performing international airports). Restructuring has also focused on improvements in working environment and introduction/implementation of new concepts of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The DG states that CAA aims to promote the aviation sector in the country by allowing market forces to determine the price, quality, frequency and patronage of air services options in Pakistan. Highlighting the organisation's commitment to keeping pace with global aviation benchmarks, he maintains that at present CAA Pakistan is operating in strict compliance to International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) standards of safety, security and regularity. A vital aspect has been the strengthening of the Regulatory role of CAA through a proactive approach Ramp inspections of the aircraft which have been increased to about an average of 40 per month against the previous average of four, Similarly, round the clock enhanced airworthiness and flight safety surveillance and oversight have been implemented. CAA's efforts on PIAC's European Union restrictions matter resulted in lifting of the ban on its aircraft. Highlighting the progress of CAA, DG informed this scribe that the revenue earned by CAA during the financial year 2006-2007 had witnessed a substantial increase of over 30 percent, with a profit margin of Rs 6.3 billion, as compared to last years' revenue of Rs. 4.8b without enhancing any charges and rates. Talking about the up-gradation of different airports across the country, Farooq Rahmatullah said that expansion and improvements at CAA airports have been planned to facilitate the public through allocation of Rs 9.0 billion in the current ADP 2007-2008 as compared to the figure of about Rs 1 billion spent in 2006-2007. The major projects include activation of the project of New Islamabad International Airport which had been held up for the last 16 years, Work on construction of New Gwadar international airport has been taken up, up-gradation of Multan airport to handle wide bodied aircraft operation along with expansion of terminal building and cargo facilities is in hand, up-gradation of Peshawar airport is in hand, and other development projects, spreading all across Pakistan have been initiated.