Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chairman Rao Qamar Suleman has resigned citing poor health, Express News reported on Tuesday. PIA Deputy Managing Director Captain Junaid Younus has been appointed as the acting Managing Director.
The former Pakistan Air Force chief, Suleman, was appointed as the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of PIA in May 2012. He had previously been appointed as PIA Managing Director.
Talking to The Express Tribune, PIA spokesperson Sultan Hasan confirmed news about Suleman’s resignation, adding the the Ministry of Defense has also informed PIA's management about it.
Deputy Managing Director PIA Captain Junaid Younus will be acting MD following the resignation of Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Suleman.
“Consequent upon resignation of Air Chief Marshal (Retired) Rao Qamar Suleman, the competent authority has directed that Deputy Managing Director PIA Captain Junaid Younus will be the acting managing director to look after the affairs of the corporation,” said a spokesman of PIA on Tuesday.
The national flag carrier has been undergoing losses and malfunctions, while when Suleman was inducted as the chairman, he was reported to be bringing "reforms" to the airline.
Almost a third of PIA flights have suffered delays this year due to technical and administrative reasons, dealing a severe blow to the national flag carrier’s business, including facing a Supreme Court inquiry regarding alleged corruption in purchasing of expensive aircrafts for the airline.
More than 4,345 of PIA’s 12,184 flights were delayed due to various faults in this year’s first three months.
Suleman retired from his post of PAF chief on March 18, after completing his three-year term, and was replaced by Air Marshal Tahir Raffiq Butt.
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after reading all comments i just want to say that he had been appointed as Air Chief only because of his good relations with our Ex Prime Minister and then Managing director because he had been promised for that even when he was serving. He begged govt to make him CEO.He did not resign because of any pressure from govt or defence ministry etc..he is not well and had an angiography so medically he is unfit and had to resign.I do not know why some of you think he brought good changes to PIA well as far as I know his children only used free tickets and went to world trips during these 6 months. i hope you know how much he earns per month and now even after resigning he and his family can enjoy free tickets to any place in this world and much more, its not only for this CEO but for all CEO who have been retired still use free planes etc.This is one of the reason why PIA is going in loss. it is still paying expenses for its Ex high officials. Mr. Suleman must have done something good for PIA but i personally feel he did not.
@Parvez: U think U R the only Parvez. U R wronge. Rao Qamar has indeed been operated upon and was resting in a PAF mess in Islamabad, Pl stop passing adverse comments. He is an honest man. Pl pray for his health.
@Cyber Intel: Who said that he was sick while in PAF..??? Stop spreading flase news...
@parvez: the comment about the heart operation using my name @parvez is not my comment. ET kindly check things like this because it reflects on your credibility.
I have learnt that the Air Marshal has under gone a heart related operation and is recuperating. May God give him health and long life.
Another man beaten by dishonest PIA management.
Probably made enough money so no need to continue!
@Khan of Cape Town: Do the culprits really need to be exposed? Walk in the PIA office building if you get the opportunity one day and see how it reeks of corruption. It's not hidden, saab khula khatay hain! All those who oppose are continually jumped from one department to another.
@M. Ali: mate, I will call him an honest man if he exposes the real culprits behind PIA's debacle.
I agree with you, he must tell the nation what is really happening in PIA other wise we will become again clueless regarding bad guys internally controlling the PIA@Shahid:
Rao Qamar Sb., A reponsibility was given to you so just dont walk away from it. At least have the courage and dignity to tell us, the people what made a clean and competent person like you to quit? We deserve an explanation.
Rao resignation is shocking and sad for every person who is interested in well being of National Corporation. PIA is under the grip of money siphoning groups who are well organised and highly capable in managing the men who matters most. This brave man unmanageable by those groups and feels helpless during his stay. Those groups acted in other ways knowing that this graceful man will not accept any dishonor and will resign so that happened. I salute to this great man, who did the best slowly but consistently, brought the the best changes in PIA by running quality assurance series, decreasing directors with cool and well controlled managing style. PIA has become a battle field of plundering, and plunderer are waging endless war to capture more and more money from PIA through dozens of dozens of different method by keeping Airline managing system as old when there was no vehicle on road, and winning the nearly every battle of money making with out any resistance. They win this battle also.
@S. Siddiqi: I have to agree with you on the technical points but for an ex-chief of the air force to ' jump ship' as you call it because of the courts.............I don't think so.
May be political mafia is strong enough to let anyone do positive changes.....instead of ruining his reputation he resigned
He accepted the appointment in May 2012 and after about 4 months he realised that his health is poor enough to do the work!!!!. Who is he kidding?
Our prayers are for both the Gentleman and the organization. Both need our heart felt prayers.
@S. Siddiqi He was made chairman PIA in May and I am damn sure Hajj flights were not in operation from May to Sep.
needless to say, it is the poor health of the organisation and not his personal health due to which he resigned
DO NOT SAY ANYTHING AGAINST HIM EVEN THOUGH HE IS ZARDARI APPOINTEE!! NEVER FORGET HE IS FROM AIR FORCE!!
I suggest advertise Internationally for a capable person and hire the best to turnaround PIA
@ahmad: couple of years ago ? He was only made chairman few months ago!
@Parvez: Rao has put PIA in an irretrievable position. I think the SC summons issued 13 Sept to appear in court re financial irregularities, left him no option but to jump ship. First Hajj flt is 19 Sept & they have near 18 planes grounded unscheduled. He placed the extremely corrupt in all key positons - Do a quick review.
Right decision after making sick PIA. This should have done couple of years back. Anyway its never too late. God Bless PIA.
Disgraceful and shameless.... He was medically unfit while in Air Force as well. When he realized that he would be held accountable for the corruption he has done, he decides to resign. He has also brought bad name to PAF.
then who will take care about the thousands of PPP political workers, who were inducted in the organization by this GOVT.......????
I bet there would be another civilian post in the waiting for ex airforce dude.. ill health my foot...
I hope its not because the PIA is a lost cause, even for AM Suleman.
A man with a conscience ..................... doesn't happen often in Pakistan. Well done.
Wisdom has prevailed but at what cost to reputation?
The best solution, rather the only one to revive the sick organisation would be to privatise, and let the new owners deal the situation.