ISLAMABAD: A parliamentarian committee on Wednesday expressed concerns over PIA’s decision to hand over a fully operational (PIA) aircraft, Airbus A-310, to a German museum, and asked the PIA to submit a thorough report explaining the matter.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Performance of PIA, PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan, said: “We need answers on this irregular deal. We will move a privilege motion if the top PIA officials are absent at the next meeting.”
The committee members observed that the aircraft has already been given away to a museum in Germany, and senators said permission was not sought to sell the flight-worthy aeroplane, no agreements were signed and the PIA did not receive any advance payment for the sale of the A-310.
“Everything is wrong with this arrangement, especially when such a deal has not been sanctioned,” Mr Khan added.
The museum in question expressed interest in acquiring the A-130 last year, to include it among its collection of international airlines’ aircraft. The same aeroplane was also flown to Malta, where it was hired for a shot in a movie.
“A movie should be made on this deal, and how an aircraft disappeared from a nuclear-powered state and ended up in a museum,” said Senator retired Col Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
“Why were the parts, which could fetch more funds, not sold in the open market,” Mr Mashhadi asked while urging the PIA’s senior management to explain their actions.
The aircraft was sold to the museum on the directions of the senior management for a little over $5 million according to the PIA officials present.
Describing such deals as “unheard of”, Mr Khan directed the PIA officials present for a report on the details of the arrangements.
