Over 1,500 employees of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were fired after they were hired on fraudulent documents. By implementing the e-PIA worker’s platform, the airline is streamlining and overhauling its human resource processes.
This was revealed at a Senate Standing Committee on Aviation hearing on Wednesday (13 October), which was chaired by Senator Hidayatullah and held at the Old PIPS Halls, Parliament Lodges. Ghulam Sarwar Khan, the Minister of Aviation, was also present at the meeting.
The committee was informed that PIA’s losses in 2018 totaled Rs67.4 billion. It was also revealed that income in 2020 would be Rs94,989 million, with operational losses of Rs680 million. Furthermore, it was also notified that the release of Covid-19 has resulted in the hat of roughly 60% of activities.
According to a PIA official, the airline collected $412 million from Airbus, which had previously been ignored by past administrations, and settled a $4 million claim with Air Asia.
The airline is also promoting tourism by launching new routes to Gilgit from Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Multan, as well as an Air Safari Flight for diplomats in collaboration with Shangri-La Hotels.
The committee was informed that PIA was implementing Engineering MRO projects primarily for commercial activities, as well as inducting a simulator to cut training costs as an initiative for 2022 and 2023.
The discussion also covered a subject involving a PIA-owned property in New York; nevertheless, the airline officials requested an in-camera meeting on the property. The property had not been taken over or attached by anyone, according to the PIA officials, and the case was still being tried with no final verdict yet.
The audit was scheduled to take place in July 2021, but it was postponed owing to Covid-19. The ICAO has now declared that the audit will take place from November 29 to December 10, adding that flights to the European Union will resume after the validation check is completed.
The committee also talked about the PPRA restrictions, which cause delays in aircraft procurement. To avoid any delays in aircraft acquisition, it was suggested that either the PPRA rules be revised, or a methodology be developed in conjunction with the PPRA.
Senator Saleem Mandivawalla said, “PIA will never get a plane if they follow the PPRA rules. It is not only for aircraft but also for engines and cargo.”
Flights from Peshawar to Lahore have been reinstated twice a week beginning this month, according to the committee. Flights between Islamabad and Malaysia have also been reinstated after being canceled due to non-payment of lease dues.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has begun disciplinary proceedings against six workers on charges of allowing pilots to present through proxies, conducting examinations on irregular dates and times, and conducting exams on public holidays and after office hours, according to the committee. A cabinet decision resulted in the suspension of two employees and the dismissal of four others.
