From days of glory to its ruination was collective abuse by successive governments starting from Zia onward and managements they nominated, dominated by mediocrity, corruption scams and conflicts of interest, with no fear of accountability. Chairman Ilahi has been appointed and unless he enforces administrative discipline within management to serve as deterrence, nothing will change. He must understand that it takes more than pilot skills to be managers. If black sheep with fake degrees and history of criminal charges, who ran PIA when PPP or Musharraf was in power, continue to be there, nothing will change. Why did PIA management pilots and engineers not operate flights during strike as they did previously in 2011?
PIA is a statutory organisation, funded by taxpayers to provide quality reliable and safe travel to passengers by best qualified set of employees. It was mandatory for management and not their discretion not to scrutinise fresh recruits by cross checking their degrees with HEC or various boards of education and their ages and domiciles for authenticity. Any submission of fake or false degrees etc at time of recruitment, whenever discovered, automatically leads to termination of service without benefits as per PIA rules. Selectively sacking few with fake degrees and ignoring others would only create more indiscipline. Individuals against whom allegations for irregularities and various other criminal charges have been substantiated by investigation were appointed as MD, DMD etc which explains continuous rise in losses and a culture where crime pays.
Governments have changed and so have managements but the airline continues to be hostage to employees who would never have qualified on merit, tainted with charges of numerous financial and administrative irregularities and yet holding executive assignments. while losses continue to pileup and revenue pilferages on rise. Unless PIA’s human resource is upgraded to meet demands of highly competitive aviation industry, and unlisted assets such as slots and routes at numerous busy international airports secured, and traffic rights given to Gulf based airlines reviewed on principle of reciprocity, PIA cannot be revived whatever the plan of government.
While aviation technology has developed at fast pace, PIA has failed to upgrade basic educational requirements for initial induction, which has reflected on its services, discipline and ability for adapting to new technological advances. Although there is no dearth of qualified young men and women in Pakistan, PIA continues to maintain basic level minimum requirements.
ANEELA CHANDIO
Sukkur