PIA experiencing loss of Rs185b, two posts of managing director were abolished a month earlier to reduce costs. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is focused on appointing an army of directors rather than spending its resources on the much-needed purchase of new aircraft, Express News reported on Wednesday. The national carrier also plans to provide benefits to these favoured officers.
PIA is experiencing a loss of Rs185 billion and two posts of managing director were abolished a month earlier to reduce the costs. Those who wanted the national carrier to save it from privatisation had held this action as direct action.
The management issued a letter on February 26 which was approved by Director Human Resource Ejaz Mazhar. According to this letter, eight officers were promoted to general managers and directors. They will be provided with new cars and other benefits.
PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said these officers were already working at these positions and their promotions have just been confirmed on the basis of their efficiency. The question remains as to why the appointments have been brought in black and white in the order 031 on February 26.
Sources say that a Maintenance Repairing Overall Section has been added in the Engineering Department and the officer to be favoured, Aamir Ali, has been appointed there while the Food and Flight Department has been added on political pressure and Amanullah Qureshi has been appointed here. Amanullah says that WJ Born Shen has been appointed director flight services while he does not have the required experience in this field.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2014.
COMMENTS (3)
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We do not know who has been hired to restructure PIA to improve its performance by way of increasing its revenue and reducing its expenses and what are the credentials of the individuals or the organizations made responsible for restructuring PIA.
The whooping losses of PIA emanate from the fact that its revenue has been lagging behind its expenses over the past several years. By promoting people at the higher echelons can only add to the expenses. It's NEVER done when an organization is suffering from huge losses. When you promote people at the top in such an environment, you are bound to promote people at other levels of the hierarchy, sooner or later.
PIA is already heavily over-staffed. There are far more directors and general managers than needed in an organization of PIA's size. Same is the case with people at other echelons of the hierarchy.
Mumtaz A. Piracha Founder/Chairman Good Governance Forum Pakistan
HAHAHA PIA had Highest ratio of airline employees per aircraft in the world by a large margin! Obviously PIA needs to have the highest number of directors per aircraft in the world to match!
In other words, after the bail out by Pakistani tax payers, normal service has resumed.