Government shelves CAA DG hiring plan

Decides to appoint two directors general for separate entities

ISLAMABAD:

The government has shelved the ongoing process of appointing the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) director general and decided to appoint two DGs for separate entities to regulate and perform commercial operations at airports.

The government had started the process of appointing the CAA DG but the selection committee could not find suitable candidates among over 599 applicants.

So, it recommended re-advertisement of the post. However, the government has decided to split the functions of CAA by setting up two new entities through the promulgation of an ordinance.

The government has directed the Civil Aviation Division to expedite the promulgation of the law relating to separation of CAA functions.

Upon promulgation of the law, the position of DG for the two new entities will be advertised. The government has directed the CAA to appoint the DGs within two months.

The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, has approved an extension in the additional charge of CAA DG held by the Aviation Division secretary for a further 90 days or till the appointment of a regular DG, whichever is earlier.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the Aviation Division had tabled a set of options before the cabinet. It pleaded that CAA may be allowed to re-advertise the post of DG with revised criteria, through appropriate national and international print media.

It proposed that the additional charge be assigned to the Aviation Division secretary. It also proposed that the Establishment Division may be requested for a panel of suitable BS-21 officers for assigning the additional charge of CAA DG till December 31, 2020 or till the appointment of CAA DG.

During discussion, cabinet members said that CAA was bifurcated into two entities. One entity was to perform the regulatory function and the other commercial operations at airports. They said that it would, therefore, be desirable to have separate DGs for the two distinct entities as these required different types of skillsets.

Explaining the constraints, the Aviation Division informed the cabinet that the draft law for bifurcation was still with the Law and Justice Division for vetting and it would take some time before its approval by parliament.

Cabinet members called for expediting matters and putting in place a permanent structure. They said that the law should be promulgated as an ordinance and thereafter two separate positions of DGs should be advertised. The matter of pay structure of the two positions should be placed before the SPSS Committee. The cabinet approved the advertisement of the posts of two DGs for separate entities under CAA.

The post of CAA DG has been lying vacant since March 2018. The government had made several attempts but failed to finalise an appointment.

Since 1982, retired PAF officers have held the position of CAA DG. However, in view of Supreme Court’s decision in September 2013, it became imperative “the government must make the post of Director General CAA public”. It further said that the government should advertise the post in press.

Accordingly, the government had advertised the position of director general in newspapers in September 2015. The government appointed a candidate but terminated his contract in March 2018. The post has remained vacant since then.

The Aviation Division had made various attempts since 2018 to fill the position. In the recent attempt, the government advertised the post of CAA DG in national dailies during July this year. In response, 599 candidates applied for the position.

After a lengthy interview process, the selection committee did not find any suitable candidate.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2020.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.