CAA plays favourites with Shaheen Air. PHOTO: FILE
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is extending unjustifiable favours to Shaheen Air International (SAI) by violating its own rules, regulations and security code, a source has revealed to The Express Tribune.
Preferential treatment towards the private airline is causing the public exchequer a loss of millions every day, money which should have been deposited by the SAI. The airline is exempt from paying millions of rupees in parking fees to the CAA as it has been allowed to park its planes at the parking sites of the Pakistan Air Force in all major airports including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar .
While Abid Kaimkhani, the CAA public relations manager, has denied that the authority was extending any undue favours, PAF spokesman Air Commodore Tariq made contradictory statements when approached by The Express Tribune.
Initially, the spokesman rejected the report and said, “Being a private company, SAI is not at all entitled to avail parking facilities at the PAF tarmacs.”
Tariq was of the view that security measures do not permit PAF to allow private aircraft and their staff to enter prohibited areas of the air force.
However, later when shown substantial evidence of the unauthorised parking of a SAI aircraft on PAF tarmac, he changed his statement, saying that SAI is in fact allowed to avail PAF tarmacs.
The spokesman said that the PAF allowed SAI aircraft to avail its parking as there was no place available on the CAA aircraft parking site.
As a matter of policy, he said that the PAF allows private airlines of Pakistan to avail its tarmacs for parking in such situations. The spokesman was not aware whether such services to SAI and other private airlines were free of charge. “I have no knowledge whether SAI had paid parking fees to the PAF or it is just free of charge,” he explained.
He also rejected claims that PAF officers benefit from free SAI tickets.
The chairman and vice-chairman of the SAI were not available for comment on the report despite repeated attempts by The Express Tribune.
With its head office in Karachi, SAI is fast emerging as the country’s leading airline. It will very soon beat PIA in number of aircraft.
The CAA has been generous towards the SAI since its inception in 1991, when it was established as a subsidiary of the Shaheen Foundation of the PAF as the second national carrier to airlift passengers and cargo on both domestic and international destinations.
Soon after its creation, the Shaheen Foundation could not manage the affairs of the airline, which caused big financial losses to the national exchequer.
The airline was then sold to Khalid Sehbai, a former PAF officer, at a throwaway price with a payment mode allowing easy instalments. The then PAF chief of air staff also wrote off about Rs653 million owed by the airline the PAF.CAA also wrote off a large amount the airline owed after it was bought by the Sehbai group due to the direct involvement of the director general of CAA.
The new owner of SAI, Khalid Mehmood Sehbai, became its first chairman; then director of CAA Safdar Malik (at the time of the purchase of SAI) was appointed as the vice-chairman of SAI.
In May 2004, the CAA stopped all domestic and international flights of SAI as it failed to pay outstanding dues worth millions of rupees.
The matter was resolved after the intervention of the PAF and higher-ups in the CAA after three days. The airline was then allowed to resume its domestic and international operations after a partial payment was made. A big amount was also written off by CAA authorities, the source said.
The favours SAI enjoys at the cost of the public exchequer give it an unfair advantage over other private airlines. Highly priced land belonging to the PAF has also been given to SAI for the establishment of its offices in various cities, including Karachi and Peshawar.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Another 'burden on the national exchequer' rant, obviously aimed at finding fault with some entity that shows even a remote sign of success and growth. Minding other people's business seems to be an age old pastime.
PIA has shrunk from its size of fleet in eighties and nineties, destinations are less, yet employees are more and paid higher among highest of all population. fa sifarshis are paid 300000 3 lac per month.
Airblue, owned by minister, special nigah e karam of govt, is in bad situation. CEO and MD are in tussle, employees salary is reduced. Aircraft fleet is shrunked. Destination (Birmingham) cancelled weeks after starting showing serious issues.
Shaheen, only success story based on good positive practices. Sons of owner Mr. Sehbai implementing improved technology, getting new fleet equal to PIA fleet of jets in just 3 years. Massive, massive growth due to blessing of Allah SWT and hard work of people. But here we go, now start ranting because uncle journalist didnt get vip treatment or free ticket on it.
Sad state of affairs. Instead of ranting about successful commercial enterprises that own half of canada (parent company of Shaheen Air) you always have to go around finding non-existent ulterior motives. A true reflection of the sad state of affairs in this country from top to bottom.
@Taimoor: Port operation, real estate and oh yes, marriage halls.... P.S: Army also has a bank, a fertlizer company and countless contracting security sub-agencies.
In China the resolve these issues with firing squads for the culprits. May we should follow their lead.
PAF will be demotivated by such articles.
@Taimoor: Navy owns marriage halls in Karachi.
@usman786: Oh yeah! you wish...Keep dreaming...
Army has the real estate business, PAF has the private aviation business. What does poor Navy have I wonder.
recover the written off debt at that time prevailing dollar rate
The airforce who convicted three technical personal for "not protecting" her AWACS, what else can be expected from them. Military is as corrupt as civilians but their corruption doesn't make it to press because military audit is a prohibited area for AGP or watchdogs.Ever wonder why most of the ex-air and army chiefs end up in US or European countries after their retirement?
Before the formation of CAA during dictator general zia's rule Karachi used to be the hub of international air travel transit with world's airlines coming to Karachi for stopovers. CAA was created to offer yet more money making opportunities to the valiant retired and active officers from air-force, army etc. It soon deprived Karachi of its status and helped build Dubai as the international travel stopover hub instead. Since then CAA has not looked back and been engaged in its activities to keep Pakistan backward in international aviation. SAI (Shaheen Air) is managed by retired air-force officers hence CAA apparently giving it favors at the cost of inflicting damages to public exchequer. Yet since armed forces bureaucrats are above the law and constitution in this country nothing would happen and they would continue looting this unfortunate country
thnx for article, all resources are bent to destroy PIA