The federal government has approved an additional budget of Rs300 million per month to cover the allowances of regular pilots of the national airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), in a major development aimed at improving operational efficiency and transparency.

According to an official notification, under the new policy, the guaranteed flying hours for PIA pilots have been increased from 50 to 73 hours per month. However, pilots will now be required to complete at least 60 hours of actual flying in a month to become eligible for the guaranteed flying allowance.

A functional team comprising three airline officers has also been constituted to monitor the performance of pilots. This team will be responsible for reviewing the monthly roster and flight scheduling to ensure transparency in the implementation of the new rules.

As per the notification, pilots will only receive payment after fulfilling the minimum 60 hours of flying in a month. Those who are under disciplinary action, suspension, or have been grounded will receive their dues only upon clearance.

The notification also sets updated slip hour rates: Rs650 per hour for domestic flights and $8 per hour for international flights. Moreover, pilots will be entitled to seven mandatory rest days every month to maintain their health and performance.

In a key clarification, the notification states that the salary of first officers will start from the date of joining, while for captains, the salary structure will be based on 16 years of service. Any additional years before attaining the captain rank will not be considered for seniority purposes.

The revised allowances and policy changes will not apply to any pilots who have been dismissed, forcibly retired, or who resigned from service on or before April 7, 2025.