Apropos Zaman’s letter titled “Shaheen Air accident”. Apart from Capt Asmat who operated flight in state of intoxication and then made a very bad landing, the owners and management of Shaheen Air and CAA as regulator and Ministry of Aviation cannot absolve themselves of criminal negligence in what amounts to culpable homicide. The rot that has set in over the years started with the appointment of incompetent executives, with controversial record and history of financial and administrative malpractices. Gross irregularities were made in recruitment of all cadres both in PIA and CAA, including sensitive jobs of pilots and engineers which were sold to highest bidder. PIA routes, nurtured over the years, were surrendered so that particular airlines in Gulf could move in and capture market. Frequency of PIA flights to Gulf was reduced in peak hours to benefit of competitors. While revenues declined, more surplus employees were added.
The PML-N government which took over in 2013 appointed another controversial pilot who other than flying private jets in Lebanon and owning a Ground Handling Agency, with shares in subcontract for never ending construction of New Islamabad Airport, had no other qualifications. This served as last nail in coffin of PIA. As for CAA its vast finances generated from collection of taxes from passengers and landing, parking and navigation fee from airlines was too attractive not to fall prey to greed of corrupt cronies and bureaucrats close to PPP.
This coterie went on rampage destroying airline’s human resources by hiring people with fake degrees. Crores owed to PIA by Cargo and Travel Agencies were written off, while procurement contracts awarded to unknown vendors, leading to grounding of half fleet and pilferage of revenues that could baffle even robbers. It was in Karachi that billions collected from non-scheduled airlines landing at Karachi were pocketed in connivance with CFO of CAA during 2008 to 2012. For aviation industry to survive, CAA must be restored as an independent regulatory body whose executives have no conflict of interest.
ANEELA CHANDIO
Sukkur
