Voicing concerns over the government’s plans to privatize Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), parliamentarians, PIA officials and a think-tank have called upon the government to revive the national flag-carrier, cut its inefficient staff and appoint an independent board of directors (BoD) to help introduce a merit-based policy to run the airline.
In a briefing session on the Citizens’ Periodic Report on Performance of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) organized by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), former defence secretary Nargis Sethi, who also authored the report, made the presentation to an audience which included parliamentarians, politicians and PIA Chairman Nasser NS Jaffer.
The report said that employee-to-aircraft ratio in PIA was as high as 650 to one as compared to the industry standards of 150 to one. The report showed that PIA’s liabilities alone constituted 71 per cent of fuel and aeronautical expenses and the provident fund in the year 2014. However, this was not reflected in the passenger revenue.
The report suggested that the PIA should be headed by an independent BoD without external political interference, while dedicated, qualified and experienced employees should be recruited on merit at senior managerial positions.
Sethi shared her research findings and highlighted how PIA was vulnerable at the hands of incompetent human resources and political interference. Contrary to the government’s vision of privatisation of PIA by March 2016, Sethi suggested minimum political interference in the operations of the airline.
She stressed that a qualified and independent BoD should be appointed to deal with the decisions of the PIA. She also recommended that worker’s unions should not be allowed to blackmail the management and that they must work in the interest of the employees and the company.
Sethi proposed formation of an autonomous and independent regulatory authority that could solely focus on regulating PIA as a profitable entity.
Secretary General PPPP Sardar Latif Khosa, PTI Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak, and others were also present on the occasion.