A Pakistan CAA Board of Inquiry report says the nation’s air traffic controllers are suffering from severe occupational-stress-related diseases, such as nightmares and acute anxiety. According to press accounts, the issue came to light as the CAA tries to identify the causes of the near collision involving a PIA aircraft and an Indian airliner on Dec 26, 2007 at Panjgur. At the time of the incident, the air traffic controller on duty had some 16 aircraft under his control and he exchanged about 120 radio calls with them over a period of 15 minutes. He had performed over seven hours of continuous duty, thus losing his concentration due to fatigue. The issue is so serious that the Board of Inquiry has recommended that a meeting of the Board of Directors of the CAA should be arranged to discuss “issues pertaining to safety and efficiency of air traffic in Pakistan. The main sources of stress are connected to both operative aspects and organizational structures. Traffic load, arranging safe separation of aircraft, making snap decisions to ensure safe journey and tight shift scheduling have contributed to the controllers’ suffering.