Pakistan International Airline (PIA) bosses have turned a blind eye to the massive corruption and irregularities of its staff at Birmingham airport as PIA Birmingham airport Station Manager Sultan Mir has converted the national airline into a money making machine by charging fixed rates on different types of work.
Sources told Pakistan Today that Rifaqat Zaman, a close accomplice of Mir, has been made in-charge of PIA operations at Birmingham airport, adding that Zaman was involved in corruption and was therefore causing huge losses to the national carrier. “Luggage of around 20 to 30 kilogrammes can be cleared by paying 100 pounds to the agents of PIA officials who are openly operating at PIA lounge and finalising deals with people. Similarly, last minute tickets can be confirmed by paying 100-150 pounds in the form of bribe,” a source said.
Likewise, an airport source said Pakistanis families leaving for Islamabad were always stopped and humiliated at the airport by Birmingham Police on complaints of PIA officials if someone refused to oblige agents of Zaman. A PIA official in UK told Pakistan Today that Mir had already completed his tenure at Birmingham but was still working on the post due to his strong political backing.
The official further said PIA’s high ups had also received a number of complaints regarding his misbehaviour with overseas Pakistanis but no one had dared to take action against him. When contacted, PIA officials refused to comment on the issue. Pakistanis residents in the UK have urged President Asif Ali Zardari and the prime minister to take strict action against corrupt officials of PIA.
They claimed that around 90 percent of the Pakistanis traveled on PIA but they were disappointed with the corruption and humiliating attitude of the airline staff at Birmingham airport.