“KP Soars High: Barrister Dr. Saif Champions Aviation Revival at Historic Peshawar Flying Club”
Advisor pledges government support to transform iconic flight school into regional aviation hub, creating high-skilled opportunities for youth
PESHAWAR: Advisor to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif, paid an official visit to the historic Peshawar Flying Club, where he was briefed on the club’s operational capabilities, training infrastructure, and its longstanding role in promoting civil aviation and pilot training in the region.
During the visit, Barrister Dr. Saif was received by the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Capt. (Retd.) Sohrab Khan, senior instructors, and administrative officials. He inspected the fleet of training aircraft, including the Cessna 150, Cessna 172 and Piper Aztec and toured the flight simulator lab, maintenance hangar, and academic block.
In his remarks, Barrister Dr. Saif lauded the club’s contributions to Pakistan’s aviation sector, terming it a “national asset with historic significance and untapped potential.” He emphasized the need to revive and expand civil aviation training in KP, particularly to empower youth, create high-skilled jobs, and develop human capital in frontier regions.
“A vibrant and well-supported flying club in Peshawar is not only a matter of heritage, but a matter of strategy. We must reconnect our young people with high-end professions like aviation and aircraft engineering,” said Barrister Dr. Saif.
The Advisor also pledged to explore avenues for government collaboration, including support for upgradation of training modules, restoration of grounded aircraft, and policy advocacy for better recognition of pilot licenses and flight instructors trained at PFCL.
CEO Capt. Sohrab Khan briefed the delegation on the club’s renewed focus under new leadership, including the revival of the Flight Instructor Training School (FITS) and plans to restore the Beechcraft King Air 200 for advanced training and charter missions.
Barrister Dr. Saif also met with staff pilots and appreciated the club’s track record of over 60,000 safe flying hours and more than 900 licensed pilots trained over the decades.
The visit concluded with the presentation of honorary shield to the Advisor and a commitment to further engagement between the provincial government and civil aviation stakeholders in KP.