Latest news with #CARs
India Gazette
21-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Air India issued show-cause notice for two flights exceeding stipulated flight time limit, 3 officials removed for rostering violations
New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show cause notice to the Accountable Manager of Air India for violating flight time rules. The DGCA Show Notice to Air India reads, 'During a spot check, it has been observed that the Accountable Manager of M/s Air India operated two flights from Bangalore to London (A|133) on 16 May 2025 and 17 May 2025, both of which exceeded the stipulated flight time limit of 10 hours, in violation of Para 6.1.3 of Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 7 Series J Part III, Issue Ill dated 24 April 2019. Air India has been asked to respond within seven days as to why appropriate enforcement action should not be initiated against them under the applicable provisions of the Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements for the violations. In its notice, the DGCA stated that the manager did not ensure adherence to specific provisions under the Civil Aviation Requirements, and warned that enforcement action could follow if no response is received. 'Whereas, it is further noted that the Accountable Manager of Mis Air India Ltd. has failed to ensure adherence to the provisions and compliance requirements as stipulated under Para 1 and Para 2.4 of Annexure III of Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) of Section 3, Series C Part Il. Now, therefore, you are hereby called upon to show cause within 07 days of receipt of this notice as to why appropriate enforcement action should not be initiated against you under the applicable provisions of the Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements for the aforementioned violations,' the letter reads. 'Failure to submit your reply within the stipulated period shall result in the matter being decided ex parte based on the evidence available on record,' the letter further reads. Additionally, the DGCA also issued a notice against three Air India officials on the rostering team, ordering the Airline to remove them for alleged repeated violations 'Remove the officials from all crew scheduling and rostering roles. Initiate internal disciplinary proceedings and report outcomes to DGCA within 10 days. Reassign the officials to non-operational roles; no involvement in safety/compliance positions until further notice. Strict enforcement action for future violations post-audit/inspection could include: penalties, License suspension, and withdrawal of operator permissions,' the regulator said in its notice. Air India responded to the DGCA's order and said that it has implemented the same. As per the statement of Air India, 'We acknowledge the regulator's directive and have implemented the order. In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices.' Earlier on June 20, Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson reassured the public and employees that the airline's fleet -- particularly its Boeing 787 aircraft -- remains safe to operate following comprehensive checks, and that the carrier is exercising maximum caution in the wake of the AI171 tragedy. The Air India CEO assured the public and employees of continued support and transparency in the aftermath of the AI171 incident, stating that the airline -- and the wider Tata Group -- will stand by the families of victims and affected staff long after the immediate crisis subsides. (ANI)
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
How India's development-centric approach to Central Asia marks a shift
Amid shifting dynamics in and around the Central Asian region – marked by Iran's entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, and the Taliban's growing engagement with China, Iran, and now India – new opportunities are emerging for India to deepen its engagement with Central Asian Republics (CARs), especially in the development sector. Notably, the development sector emerged as the primary focus of discussions during the fourth meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue. This signals a departure from the earlier narrative between India and the region, which was largely dominated by Central Asian geopolitics, the new Great Game, oil and gas deals, and pipeline routes. The Dialogue, chaired by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and attended by the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, proved to be a valuable opportunity to showcase India's developmental strengths and the potential for linking them to Central Asia. Let's examine India's development-centric approach to the region, which has become noticeable in recent years, and explore how the India–Central Asia Dialogue evolved as a strategic tool for New Delhi. Central Asia has long been part of the Indian imagination due to historical civilisational linkages and cultural connections. After the Soviet Union break-up, new geopolitical realities and economic opportunities influenced India's approach to the region. The emergence of new independent states opened opportunities for energy imports as well as trade and transit. At the same time, concerns over rising religious fundamentalism, instability in Afghanistan and China's growing profile in the region further heightened India's strategic interest. After signing strategic partnerships with Kazakhstan (2009), Uzbekistan (2011) and Tajikistan (2012), India announced its 12-point 'Connect Central Asia' policy in 2012. The aim was to look at the region collectively in a more proactive manner and strengthen India's political, security, economic and cultural connections. In July 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited all five Central Asian states and signed 22 agreements. India's engagement deepened further when it became a full member of the SCO in 2017 and initiated the foreign minister-level 'India–Central Asia Dialogue' in 2019. The same year, India elevated relations with Kyrgyzstan to a strategic partnership. Despite close political and strategic ties with all Central Asian countries, India's commercial engagement with the region has remained limited. An unstable Afghanistan and strained India–Pakistan relations have obstructed direct connectivity. To address these challenges, New Delhi sought alternative routes by working with Russia and Iran through the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and its tributaries. Investments in Afghan infrastructure was also part of this broader strategy. The construction of the 218 km Zaranj–Delaram road in Afghanistan and the development of Chabahar Port in Iran were key initiatives aimed at facilitating India's access to Central Asia via Iran and Afghanistan's ring road. India's connectivity plans coincided with the US New Silk Road Initiative to connect Central Asia with South Asia via Afghanistan. The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline project also remained a key focus for many years. However, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the return of the Taliban disrupted all these earlier narratives. In the meantime, China has expanded its presence in the region through trade and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are also part of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. In this evolving regional context, development cooperation and capacity building have become central to India's engagement with Central Asia. To support this shift, India has established the India–Central Asia Development Group and the India–Central Asia Business Council. Additionally, a US$1 billion line of credit was launched to fund development projects in infrastructure, IT, energy, and agriculture. At the recent India-Central Asia Business Council, EAM Jaishankar outlined five key areas to strengthen linkages between the growing Indian economy and Central Asia. These included digital economy and innovation, financial services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, enhancing connectivity, and streamlining transit procedures. The outcome of the Foreign Ministers' Dialogue also included the establishment of the India–Central Asia Digital Partnership Forum and India's offer of technical support for designing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) models in Central Asia. The Central Asian partners further agreed to work closely with India's Global South Centre of Excellence – DAKSHIN (Development and Knowledge Sharing Initiative), to exchange and learn from each other's development experiences. India has also offered to share its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) platforms, such as Aadhaar and DigiLocker, with Central Asian Countries. However, due to challenges related to direct connectivity and customs procedures, India's trade with Central Asia has remained limited to around US$2 billion in recent years. To strengthen these ties, it has been suggested to develop long-term cooperation in uranium, crude oil, gas, mining, coal, and fertilizers, along with facilitating payments in local currencies. Additionally, tourism and education have been identified as high-potential sectors for future growth. India imports significant quantities of uranium from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. During the meeting, Central Asian partners expressed interest in jointly exploring rare earth minerals. How have changing power dynamics in and around Central Asia – marked by Iran's entry into SCO and BRICS, and the Taliban's growing engagement with China, Iran, and now India – reshaped India's calculus in the region? To what extent can India's development-centric approach counterbalance China's economic influence in Central Asia, especially under the BRI framework? How has the India–Central Asia Dialogue evolved as a strategic tool for New Delhi's regional outreach in a post-US Afghanistan? Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, what were the factors that sharpened India's strategic interest in the Central Asia region? India announced its 12-point 'Connect Central Asia' policy in 2012. What was the aim of this initiative? Evaluate. (Gulshan Sachdeva is Chief Coordinator, DAKSHIN – Global South Centre of Excellence, RIS at New Delhi and Professor at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University) Share your thoughts and ideas on UPSC Special articles with Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pak-Kyrgyz rail link discussed
ISLAMABAD: The Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan, Avazbek Atakhanov, Friday, called on the Federal Minister for Railways, Hanif Abbasi, to discuss matters related to Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan rail link and invited Railways minister to attend the meeting of the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Intergover nmental commission next month. During the meeting both the sides, while expressing determination to further strengthen railway cooperation, agreed to promote economic, cultural and trade relations. Abbasi emphasised on improving trade links and travel facilities between the two countries. The ambassador Kyrgyzstan of appreciated the government's economic policies and said that Pakistan's current situation has improved and the economy has strengthened. Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan discuss technical exchanges and joint projects for development in the railway sector. 'Railway cooperation between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan will improve economic relations and strengthen people-to-people contacts,' Abbasi said. Abbasi stressed the need to strengthen relations with Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian Republics (CARs), saying railways has great potential to not only serve the travellers but also goods transport. He assured full support for increasing cooperation in the railway sector with Kyrgyzstan. The Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan invited Railways Minister Abbasi to attend the meeting of the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Inte rgovernmental Com mission. On February 26, 2025, Uzbekistan and Pakistan during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Uzbekistan had agreed to establish a tripartite committee with Afghanistan to address issues that are hindering the implementation of a proposed railway project connecting the three countries. According to officials, Russia is also keen to participate in the Trans-Afghanistan rail link and Russia has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan. According to Russia's Ministry of Transport, two possible routes are under consideration: Route (i) Mazar-e-Sharif – Herat – Dilaram– Kandahar – Chaman (Pakistan) and (ii) Route 2: Termez (Uzbekistan) – Naibabad – Logar – Harlachi (Pakistan). Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
16-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Trade, economic partnership agreements fuel growth
Listen to article BRUSSELS: Pakistan, by developing its own internal integration through free trade agreements and economic partnership agreements with Central Asian Republics (CARs) including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and most importantly with China, can provide refuge at times when other markets suffer. The free flow of products and people across country borders increases overall economic efficiency, widens consumer choices, decreases production costs and enables faster economic growth. It contributes to improved living standards and increased investment opportunities. As total trade flow increases, liquidity increases. With an increase in liquidity comes a decrease in volatility, which is eventually followed by broader, deeper markets with an improving risk profile. So, while optimal policy prescriptions within all four grand kingdoms of macroeconomics (fiscal policy, monetary policy, income policy and trade policy) are desirable, effective trade policy can be especially important for fueling economic growth and equity market outperformance. Free trade among Central Asian countries and Pakistan will make the region more competitive and more productive. By reducing arbitrary government constraints on trade flows, businesses enjoy increased market access and can exploit economies of scale and other local advantages, allowing them to purchase resources from the cheapest suppliers and locate manufacturing operations where they are most efficient. Expansion of free trade in Southeast Asia among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is an example to follow. Total trade (exports and imports) in the Asean bloc has surged since 2002-03, when the Asean Free Trade Area drastically reduced tariffs within the region. Today, total trade stands at more than $750 billion and foreign direct investment (FDI) above $200 billion. Furthermore, trade within the Asean bloc represents 60% of their total trade and their annual growth rates for the last two decades have averaged between 8% and 10%. The Asean region has shown that they understand trade dynamics and a major stimulus to growth. Besides the Asean-China free trade agreement, they also have free trade deals with India, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Included in the Asean-China free trade deal is an agreement on FDI. The agreement stipulates that there will be similar transparency and legal protection for Chinese companies in the Asean region as those granted to member countries of the bloc. This simply makes it easier for capital to flow from China to the Asean region. The net inflow of FDI into Asean countries from China has been substantially positive since the start of tariff reductions in 2005. It is thus much easier for companies to seek competitive advantages within the region, leading to increased investment and ultimately higher growth. It is high time that Pakistan and Central Asian countries with China create a similar regional free trade agreement that involves reduction or elimination of tariffs and decreased regulations on investments and services. There are investment opportunities across the board as trade acceleration increases the pace of economic growth. Currently, Pakistan's trade with CARs is between $400-500 million annually and is mostly via Afghanistan. This should not be the case. Pakistan shares deep cultural and historical ties with Central Asian states since centuries and therefore it is imperative to enhance mutual interest in regional trade connectivity. Additionally, Pakistan's geographical location would offer CARs the potential to integrate their transit trade routes via Sost-Khunjerab in Gilgit-Baltistan all the way down to Gwadar and Karachi ports on the Arabian Sea. Kashgar, located in southwestern Xinjiang, China is well positioned to become a major regional logistic hub for Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) and can be used for access to and from all neighbouring Central Asian countries and integrate with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The regional land route connectivity under TIR holds the key to diversifying Pakistan's total trade and unlocking markets in Central Asia. This quicker mode of transportation for regional connectivity can be undertaken by National Logistics Corporation (NLC) and others under TIR and Multimodal conventions. The road route can also be connected for transshipment by rail towards Pakistani ports, which are currently underutilised, then by sea towards their final destinations and vice versa. As trade volumes continue to rise, more and more transit/TIR hubs will emerge within CARs and Pakistan, at last fulfilling the crucial component of CPEC. The writer is a philanthropist and an economist based in Belgium
