Flying low: Senate flays PIA’s performance

Calls upon government to take corrective measures.


Zahid Gishkori February 07, 2012

ISLAMABAD:


Senators from both the treasury and opposition benches observed on Monday that the national flag carrier is going from “bad to worse with every passing day.” However, they could not succeed in convincing Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar to announce a ‘specific policy’ to control the multi-billion losses in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). 


“A major operation is needed to improve the performance of major national entities including PIA,” observed Awami National Party senator Haji Adeel. “Partnership with foreign airlines can be fruitful for PIA, which is being crippled by colossal losses.”

The Senate witnessed a heated debate on issues related to PIA when Muttahida Qaumi Movement senator Col (retd) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi moved a motion to discuss the overall performance of the national flag carrier. “PIA is plagued by the same affliction as other state-run enterprises: political interference.”

Initiating debate, Mashhadi said the performance of PIA is going from “bad to worse day by day,” adding that Pakistan airlines required new planes to compete with other flag carriers of the world.

Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmad said the government did not implement the Senate Sub-Committee’s recommendations to bring reformation in the PIA administration. “The board of directors has failed to uplift the national flag carrier.”

Taking part in the debate, Senators Mir Wali Muhammad Badini and Kalsoom Parveen demanded more flights in Balochistan to facilitate the people of the province.

Leader of the opposition, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said PIA is constantly facing a deficit and needs the government’s attention. He urged the government to take proper measures to improve the performance of PIA. Senators Tariq Azeem, Ahmad Ali, Qari Abdullah and Najma Hameed also criticised PIA’s performance and called upon the government to take corrective measures.

Concluding the debate, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar confirmed that PIA incurred losses of over Rs30 billion in 2008 and is facing a severe shortage of funds to improve its performance. “We are considering various options to bring PIA on backtrack, including engaging private partners,” said the minister who came under harsh criticism in the senate.

During the course of proceedings, Tariq Azeem Khan introduced ‘The Regulation of Foreign Contribution Bill, 2012,’ which provides for consolidating the law to regulate acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution by non-government organisations. Pakistan People’s Party senator Sabir Ali Baloch introduced ‘The Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2011.’ Senator Saeeda Iqbal presented the report of the Committee on ‘The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2011,’ which aims at to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the age of five and 16 years.

Senate Deputy Chairman Jan Muhammad Jamali referred the ‘Regulation of Foreign Contribution Bill, 2012’ and the ‘Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2011’ to the concerned senate standing committees.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2012.

COMMENTS (1)

Muhammad Rashid Awan | 12 years ago | Reply

Haji Adeel............What would you say about Railways? Any thoughtful suggestions for its restructuring..........

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