A National Assembly sub-committee has approved the Carriage By Air Amendment Bill 2025, proposing significantly higher compensation for passengers and their families in cases of air travel incidents.

The Defence Sub-Committee of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence met at Parliament House under the convenership of Sharmila Faruqi to review the legislation.

During the briefing, the Ministry of Defence’s legal adviser said the bill recommends Rs. 60 million compensation for the accidental death of a passenger during international travel, bringing Pakistan’s standards in line with international norms.

For domestic flights, the proposed compensation is Rs. 20 million. The ministry originally suggested Rs. 15 million, but the federal cabinet increased the amount. The adviser noted that in India, the current compensation stands at Rs. 5 million.

Under the amendment, airlines will also pay Rs. 600,000 for lost baggage and Rs. 5,000 per kilogram for lost or damaged cargo. In cases of in-flight injuries, a designated medical board will determine compensation based on the nature of injuries.

The committee chairperson proposed making it mandatory for compensation to be released within 30 days of the submission of a succession certificate. The Defence Ministry accepted the suggestion, and the sub-committee approved the bill accordingly.