Managing the CAA

This refers to the letter, ‘Transparent CAA’ (September 8) by Lt-Col (r) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt. I differ with the writer when he says, “This is the first time in the history of the CAA that its DG will be selected on merit.” The majority of past director-generals of the CAA were high-ranking officials of the Pakistan Air Force. It was due to their professional, honest and invaluable contributions that today the Civil Aviation Authority is the most profitable organisation of the country.
The writer has also mentioned that its former director-generals had no experience in the aviation field. All former director-generals were mostly from the PAF or – in one occasion or two – from PIA, having vast experience in aviation-related matters – both in terms of flying hours accumulated as well as managing top aviation positions within their own respective professional organisations. Third, the writer says that most of our state-owned organisations have suffered on account of non-transparent appointments barring merit. The command of the Civil Aviation Authority has to be entrusted to an individual who can deal with routine aviation matters during peacetime. However, in case of an outbreak of war, since the entire infrastructure of the CAA, airports, equipment and personnel would become an operational part of the Pakistan Air Force, it is essential that the post of the DG Civil Aviation Authority be entrusted to a high-ranking official from the PAF so that he can manage the affairs professionally and with competence by virtue of his experience.
Ashfaque Malick
Lahore