Parliamentarians demand PIA recruitment on basis of merit instead of ‘political affiliations’
Parliamentary secy for petroleum and natural resources dispels rumours of gas load shedding in domestic and commercial sectors, says Punjab industries bearing brunt of gas shortfall
The National Assembly Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution calling upon the government to take immediate steps to improve the air service of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The resolution was moved by Shahida Rehmani.
Earlier, lawmakers Abdul Kahar Khan Wadan, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub, Parveen Masood Bhatti, Iftikharuddin, Sahibzada Tariqullah, Nabeel Gabol, Moeen Wattoo, Sheikh Salahuddin, Abdul Rashid Godail, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah and GG Jamal spoke about the resolution. They demanded that the cancelled domestic and international flights of PIA to various destinations should be restored. They also demanded that recruitment in PIA should be made purely on merit and “not on basis of political affiliations”.
Winding up the discussion on the resolution, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed told the House that the government has taken a number of steps to improve the performance of the national flag carrier.
The prime minister has granted a financial package to reduce the debt burden of PIA, he said, adding that “small planes are being taken on wet and dry lease to improve the performance of PIA”.
“PIA annually incurs losses to the tune of Rs48 billion but the losses are being gradually reducing as a result of the steps taken by the government,” said the state minister, adding that “mismanagement and corruption” were the major causes of PIA’s failure and “the government has taken steps to eliminate corruption from the organisation”.
After some members criticised “the closure of gas supply and low gas pressure to domestic consumers by the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines in most areas”, Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shehzadi Umerzadi told the House that “no gas load management is being carried out in domestic and commercial sectors”
