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Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Indian Express
A look at security measures at Pune airport, railway station, Swargate bus depot amid India-Pakistan tension
In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor carried out by the Indian Armed Forces, and the subsequent tensions and attacks along the India-Pakistan border, cities across the country remained on high alert. The Indian Express takes a look at the heightened security arrangements at the three main entry and exit points in the city-the Pune Airport, Pune Railway Station, and Swargate bus station. Pune Airport The Pune airport had announced additional security measures in light of the tensions at the border. On Friday, it said that 100 percent Secondary Ladder Point Checking (SLPC) has been made compulsory for all flights. Among other measures, random baggage checks were conducted on passengers before entering the terminal, and an increased percentage of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) checks for consignments was also being carried out. 'We were expecting intense checks and long queues. So we reached well before the usual reporting time. But surprisingly, everything moved quickly,' said Asit Sonavare, a cybersecurity professional, who had come to accompany a friend flying to Bangalore. 'My friend went through security and check-in without delays. There were even rumours that Digi Yatra services were suspended due to the situation. But that turned out to be false. The system was working perfectly. I think the bigger problem right now is the volume of unverified information being circulated. The ground reality is far more stable than what's being portrayed online,' he added. Amruta Doshi, who had come from Nanded to see off her sister and her family flying to Germany, said they had come to the airport quite apprehensive about whether international travel would be permitted. 'Honestly, we were very anxious when we left home this morning. With everything we've been seeing on the news, it felt like we were stepping into a zone of uncertainty. But when we reached the airport, we were surprised by how normal everything was. There's security in place, yes, but it's organised, and it doesn't feel panicked. As family members, we're still a little scared, but there's nothing to worry about,' she said. Pune railway station The railway authorities at Pune station focused on strictly enforcing existing safety protocols as part of a precautionary approach during the heightened alert period. 'We already have safety measures in place. Right now, we're just making sure they are followed more strictly. There's nothing new being added,' said Ravindra P Dhumal, Station Operations Manager. Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel are stationed across platforms, entry points, and near trains. Baggage screening is being enforced more rigorously, with passengers required to scan their luggage through X-Ray scanners before entering the station across all entry points. Those who attempt to bypass the scanners are being stopped by security personnel, who ask them to return and complete the necessary screening. Metal detectors are also being used at various points within the station for added security. Access control has also been tightened, and ticket checks are being carried out regularly. Status quo continues regarding the restriction on the sale of platform tickets at the railway station as a safety measure to limit the presence of non-travellers on platforms. The sale of platform tickets was suspended last year to reduce crowding. Swargate bus station Security guards were present at the entrance and inside the Swargate State Transport bus stand. However, these security measures were put in place after the brutal rape of a Pune woman inside a parked Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus inside the sprawling bus station in February. A security official deployed at the spot said that no additional measures were added in the aftermath of the tensions between India and Pakistan. 'A police van is present at Swargate round the clock, and senior police officers do continuous night patrols here,' he said. Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
Arab News
11-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
European aviation team in Islamabad to upgrade security standards after EU ban lifted
ISLAMABAD: A team from the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) is set to arrive in Islamabad on Monday to provide specialized security training and certification to Pakistani aviation inspectors, an official from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said on Sunday. Europe's aviation regulator barred Pakistani airlines in June 2020 from operating in European airspace over concerns that Pakistan's aviation authorities were failing to meet international safety standards. The ban was lifted in November 2024. ECAC, a grouping of the EU and 17 other countries, is a European aviation policy forum focused on safety and security. The PCAA requested it to train its staff after the resumption of flights to the EU in January. 'The ECAC team is arriving in Pakistan tomorrow [Monday] to conduct training of our inspectors on two key areas of Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) and Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD),' PCAA Director of Aviation Security Shahid Qadir told Arab News. 'The training aims to enhance their ability to inspect explosive detection machines as well as guide the handlers of detection dogs on key focus areas and essential elements to ensure the highest standards of inspection.' Qadir said the PCAA is committed to meeting international standards and ensuring that the credentials of Pakistani inspectors align with those required in Europe and the US. The two-member ECAC team will conduct a four-day training program at Islamabad International Airport, where 12 aviation security compliance inspectors are expected to participate. 'The two-member ECAC team will conduct a four-day training at Islamabad International Airport, where twelve of our aviation security regulatory inspectors will receive the training,' Qadir said. 'They will conduct the training and certify the inspectors upon its completion.' The training is expected to reinforce Pakistan's international credibility, as aviation security is the most frequently audited area in international oversight and the first thing regulators review is the profile of inspectors, the PCAA official added. 'When they see the courses, training, and certifications our inspectors have completed, they recognize that we meet international standards.'
Express Tribune
05-04-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
European Union team to train CAA officials
PCAA informed PPRA that there were serious anomalies in the examination system of pilots, pointed out in July last year by a high-level inquiry. PHOTO: FILE In a first, a team of European civil aviation authorities will visit Pakistan next week to train Pakistan's civil aviation security regulators. According to a spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the team comprising two members will provide training to the regulators on the Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) and Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) as per European standards. These trainings will be held at Islamabad International Airport. The ETD training involves learning how to operate explosive trace detection equipment used in airports and security zones. The EDD training refers to the training of canines (dogs) and their handlers to detect explosives using scent. In civil aviation, the ETD and the EDD training are crucial parts of aviation security protocols to prevent the transportation of explosives through air travel.
Express Tribune
05-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
European Civil Aviation team to train Pakistan airport staff for first time
Civil Aviation Authority is not conducting the privatisation transaction to hand over three international airports. PHOTO: FILE Listen to article A European Civil Aviation team is scheduled to visit Pakistan next week to provide, for the first time, specialised security training and certification to airport regulators, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The two-member team, dispatched on the directive of the European Union, will train aviation security personnel at Islamabad Airport, Express News reported. The sessions will focus on meeting international standards, particularly in the areas of Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) and Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD). A CAA spokesperson confirmed the initiative aims to align Pakistan's aviation security protocols with globally recognised benchmarks, enhancing overall airport safety. 'This is a significant milestone in our efforts to bring aviation security in Pakistan up to international standards,' the spokesperson said. Last year, the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) officially lifted the suspension on PIA and granted authorisation for Airblue to operate flights to Europe, marking a significant milestone for Pakistan's aviation sector. This development restores direct air links between Pakistan and European destinations, following a ban that had been in place since 2020. Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the news, stating that the lifting of the suspension and the new authorisation for Airblue was made possible due to focused efforts by the Ministry of Aviation to strengthen the Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and improve safety oversight in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
Euronews
19-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
European Commission urges end to tax reform deadlock in energy cost-cutting plan
T he European Commission 'stands ready' to help EU governments reach an agreement on reforms to the Energy Taxation Directive proposed back in 2021, according to a leaked draft of an action plan to cut energy costs that put Europe at a disadvantage with competitors China and the US. But with tax matters one of a handful of EU policy areas where legislation requires the unanimous backing of all 27 member state governments, reform is proving hard to achieve. Talks in the EU council have been deadlocked for years, with countries divided notably over whether the airline and shipping industries should continue to enjoy tax-free fossil fuels. 'The Council should conclude the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive ('ETD'), proposed in 2021, which aims at aligning the taxation of energy products with EU energy and climate policies, promoting clean technologies and removing outdated exemptions and reduced rates that currently encourage the use of fossil fuels,' the leaked text runs. Among the proposed reforms is tax relief for low-income households. The European Parliament's industry and energy committee adopted an opinion on the proposal Wednesday, calling for the EU to bolster the reform with measures to 'incentivise local self-production, storage, sharing, and consumption of renewable energy'. But the committee's role is merely advisory, and although the prerogative lies ultimately with the EU Council, the reform cannot go ahead until the parliament's economy committee also adopts its own position on the proposal. The draft cost-cutting plan – seen by Euronews and due to be published in its final form on 26 February alongside a flagship Clean Industrial Deal – promises guidance for governments on how to reduce electricity levies to the lowest possible under the current regulations. It also looks for non-taxation approaches, for example by promoting demand reduction to reduce price spikes during times of peak electricity demand, and a market based approach to incentivize energy efficiency improvements. The Japanese model Another mooted approach to reducing energy costs is 'demand aggregation' for imports of liquefied natural gas, with EU buyers able to 'leverage their economic weight' to push for lower prices in joint purchasing agreements. The draft plan goes further, however, suggesting adopting a 'Japanese model' where European countries could invest in export facilities in gas producing countries to build up links with suppliers. One of the paradoxes during the energy crisis of 2022 was that electricity prices hit record highs even when the bulk of power in the grid was coming from renewable sources like wind and solar, which last year overtook fossil fuel-fired generation. This is due to a market mechanism where the most expensive ingredient in the mix sets the price. Hastily introduced reforms introduced caps and empowered governments to intervene with support for consumers, but did not change the fundamental structure of the system, and the draft text suggests there are no plans to revisit the market design. Instead, the Commission wants to 'decouple retail electricity bills from high and volatile gas prices' in part by making it easier for firms to strike long-term power purchase agreements with renewable power operators, launching before the summer a collaboration with the European Investment Bank, which is to provide an as yet unspecified amount of financing.
