PML-N Leader Khawaja Saad Rafique Criticizes Government’s Decision to Merge Aviation Ministry with Defense

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique has strongly criticized the government’s recent decision to dissolve the Ministry of Aviation and merge it with the Ministry of Defense. In a tweet, Saad Rafique expressed regret over this move, calling it an inappropriate decision.

He stated that the dissolution of the Ministry of Aviation would harm the aviation industry. The PML-N’s electoral manifesto had promised the creation of a Ministry of Transport by merging Railways and Aviation. According to Rafique, if the government intended to downsize, they could have merged Railways, Aviation, and Ports and Shipping into one Ministry of Transport.

The federal government officially dissolved the Ministry of Aviation and integrated it into the Ministry of Defense. This change has been implemented after a cabinet decision and the issuance of an SRO (Statutory Regulatory Order) by the Cabinet Division. The Ministry of Defense sent a notification regarding this merger to all ministries and divisions, as well as to the provincial chief secretaries, including those from Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The notification further stated that the decision to merge the Ministry of Aviation into the Ministry of Defense was taken on January 14, 2025, and the SRO was issued on February 4, 2025. Going forward, all aviation-related matters will now be handled by the Ministry of Defense.