Pakistan is set to establish its first European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-approved Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Islamabad International Airport, alongside a modern aircraft maintenance hangar and a full-flight simulator centre, in a major step towards strengthening the country’s aviation engineering infrastructure.
The projects are being undertaken under the Ministry of Defence’s Aviation Sector Transformation Programme to enhance domestic aircraft maintenance, engineering and pilot training capabilities while reducing reliance on overseas aviation services.
According to sources, private aviation services provider NORTEK is developing the specialised MRO facility with administrative support from the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) and regulatory oversight of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). Once approved by EASA, it will become Pakistan’s first internationally certified MRO centre, providing base maintenance and component support for Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft.
The project is expected to create skilled employment opportunities, strengthen indigenous aviation engineering expertise and save millions of dollars in foreign exchange by reducing the need to send aircraft abroad for maintenance.
Separately, Airblue Limited is constructing an EASA-standard aircraft maintenance hangar at Islamabad International Airport to support its engineering operations and potentially provide maintenance services to other domestic airlines operating Airbus A320-family aircraft.
Airblue is also establishing a Flight Training Centre and Full Flight Simulator facility, scheduled for completion by April 2027. Equipped with advanced flight simulators and modern training classrooms, the centre will support type-rating and recurrent pilot training, helping address the country’s shortage of trained pilots while improving aviation safety standards.
Officials believe these projects will transform Islamabad International Airport into a regional hub for aircraft maintenance, aviation engineering, regulatory compliance and professional flight training.
