Flying unfriendly skies

If the existing irregularities in PIA persist without redress, then neither privatisation nor restructuring can change the state of affairs at our national carrier. At this critical juncture, billions of rupees earned in revenues continue to be pilfered in procurement contracts; the lease and induction of aircraft; and the award of GSA/GHA to dubious elements who have a history of committing financial mismanagement. PIA hotels and assets worth billions continue to be in the hands of cooks that have spoiled the broth, irrespective of political changes.

PIA’s popularity and success during the tenure of Rafique Saigol and Air Marshal Nur Khan in the 1970s was reversed by Zia. He veered the airline towards the path of nepotism by appointing relatives and cronies who had systematically damaged the airline. With an assured domestic clientele and an abundance of Pakistani expatriates who were eager to travel with PIA, all that was required was a professionally-competent management that did not succumb to unwarranted political interference. But the economic viability of the airline was decimated when routes were assigned to airlines in the Gulf by civil and military governments. The Musharraf era and the policies introduced during the tenures of the PPP and PML-N broke the camel’s back. By 2012, the airline was making huge financial losses. To make matters worse, Nawaz chose a Canadian national who was sacked from PAF on disciplinary grounds as the aviation adviser who drove the airline towards insolvency.

Malik Tariq Ali

Lahore