Apex court order: SC asks PIA for ‘comprehensive plan’

PIA, CAA given two weeks time to submit the plan.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court voiced dismay at the “mismanagement” of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which it said lost Rs22.43 billion in 2012, and ordered bosses to come up with a rescue plan. In an order published Friday the apex court gave the chairman of PIA and the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) two weeks to report back with a “comprehensive plan” to improve the airline and Pakistan’s airports. The order also voiced frustration at the performance of seven senior PIA officials who had flown from Karachi to Islamabad specifically for the court hearing. “No one amongst them was fully aware of the affairs of the Corporation and whenever questions were put to them, they stated that they had to get figures and they would inform the court...on the next date of hearing,” the court said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2012.