According to news reports appearing in different sections of press Pakistan International Airline’s fleet is operating at 69% capacity level. Around 12 out of 39 planes have been grounded due to technical faults.
Flight schedules are regularly disturbed due to readjustment of flights. Nepotism in appointment and totally ignoring the technocrats for management slots has put the organisation in ruins. At such testing times, when all the major organisations like KESC, Pakistan Railways and Pakistan Steel Mill are running on bailout packages, a nosedive by PIA will add insult to the already injured economy.
Is it not a wake up call for PIA? Some solid and concrete steps have to be taken by government before it is too late. Overstaffing, inefficiency of staff, lack of interest in work, pilferage of funds and failure to devise practical strategies are required to be controlled immediately. Failure to achieve targets and goals may be thoroughly investigated and those responsible for constant decrease in revenue and downfall of elite service must be punished.
Going along in as-it-is mode will further damage the image of the national flag bearer and the setback so received will be quite difficult to recover from. Government’s incompetent cronies are playing with all large earning units and if the practice is not discontinued forthwith, they will no doubt cause havoc.
IFTIKHAR SHAHEEN MIRZA
Islamabad