PIA appointed 27 new officers since last July

[Abbas Ali]

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: Twenty-seven officers have been posted in Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) since July 1 last year, Zahid Hamid, the state minister for Defence, told the Senate on Monday.

One engineering director, one general manager for facilities, one assistant manager, 12 trainee officers, three trainee engineers and nine trainee pilots have been appointed. 13 of the appointees are from Sindh (Urban), nine from Punjab, three from Balochistan and one each from North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Another 4,838 people have been appointed in the corporation on contract in subordinate ranks ranging from pay scale 1-10 during the last three years. Up to 2,057 of them belonged to Punjab, 1,654 to Sindh (Urban), 282 to Sindh (Rural), 104 to Balochistan, 599 to NWFP, 75 to Azad Kashmir and 49 belonged to Northern Areas.

The minister stated that out of these 4,838 employees, some 4,000 had already been working with the PIA on daily wages. “They now have been appointed on contract basis in the corporation,” he said.

Senator Rukhsana Zubairi asked the minister whether the emoluments of the retired government officials, who were reemployed in the corporation, had exceeded their salaries at the time of their retirement. The minister replied that the salaries were decided on the basis of qualifications and experience of the new employees. He refuted the assertion that PIA employees were being removed from services forcibly after their bosses ruined their annual confidential reports (ACRs). “Up to 2057 employees were relieved last year with full benefits,” he said. The minister said only two of the eight Fokker planes had completed their 90,000 cycles while the remaining were in use.

“PIAC gives top priority to its costumers and the Fokker planes have flown only 75 percent of their average life,” he said. “The corporation has approved a purchase of seven new aircrafts to replace the fleet of aging Fokker aircrafts. The new aircrafts, equipped with the latest systems, will be deployed for operations on new routes like Turbat-Sharjah,” he said.

Source: Daily Times

[Abbas Ali]

Senate informed about appointments made in PIA

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Defence Zahid Hamid on Monday informed the Senate that 4,838 appointments were made in Group 1-10 in the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) during last three years.

Responding to a query during the question hour, he said that out of these 4,838 workers, about 4,000 were already working on daily wages. He said that 104 workers were appointed from Balochistan, which was in accordance with the laid-down quota. "Out of total of 18,647 employees of the corporation, 657 belong to Balochistan," he added.

Responding to a supplementary question, he said the operational life of F-27 Fokker aircraft was 90,000 landings. Two Fokker aircraft have already been grounded after completion of 90,000 landings, he said, adding that six Fokker aircraft were being maintained on high safety standard but they would also be grounded after completion of 90,000 landings.

He, however, said the PIA board had approved the purchase of seven new AIR-42 500 aircraft to replace the present fleet of Fokker aircraft. Responding to yet another supplementary question, he said there is no question of spoiling ACRs of some PIA employees.

Source: The News