Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed the Chief Executive Officer of PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik to expedite restructuring plan of the national flag carrier and present him a framework in a week’s time.
Talking to the CEO, who called on him here Friday, the prime minister asked him to undertake the restructuring in consultation with his Advisor on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain. Air Marshal Arshad Malik briefed the prime minister regarding ongoing negotiations with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to ensure PIA flight operations for Europe. The CEO also briefed the prime minister regarding restructuring of PIA so as to make it a profitable and leading airline.
The prime minister emphasized that the government is pursuing an across-the-board reforms agenda to make institutions efficient and service oriented.
An inquiry into the May 22 crash that killed 97 people on board resulted in the stunning revelation that 262 of 860 pilots in Pakistan had cheated on their pilots exams, but were still given licenses by the Civil Aviation Authority. The government later fired five officials of the regulatory agency and criminal charges against them are being considered.
The scandal has shocked the nation, including the families of those passengers who died when the flight PK8303 went down in a congested residential area while trying to land in the port city of Karachi. There were only two survivors on board and a girl died on the ground.
The revelations of tainted pilot licenses have also embarrassed the government and shaken the top ranks of Pakistan International Airlines. The European Union’s aviation safety agency and the United Kingdom subsequently banned PIA from flying into Europe for at least six months following revelations that nearly a third of Pakistani pilots had cheated on their exams. Pakistani pilots flying with European airlines have also been grounded while their credentials are being verified.
