PM assures Govt’s full support in reviving PIA

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to evolve a comprehensive business plan to revive Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as a profitable institution. He said this while chairing a meeting held to review the ongoing reforms in Pakistan International Airlines in Islamabad on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said the national flag carrier was made a liability due to mismanagement and corruption for which tax payers had to share the burden. Expressing satisfaction over the sitting PIA administration, Imran Khan asked the chairman to evolve a comprehensive strategy to overcome losses being faced by the national flag carrier. Briefing the Prime Minister, PIA Chairman Air Marshal Asad Mehmood Malik said total deficit of the airline stands at 414.3 billion rupees. PIA is facing a deficit of 500 million rupees on seven international routes in addition to loss on domestic routes. It was told that 194 ghost employees, 73 cabin crew members and seven pilots have been removed on the basis of fake degrees. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Asad Umar, Aviation Minister Muhammad Somoro, Air Chief Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Senator Faisal Javed, PIA Chairman Air Marshal Asad Mehmood Malik and others.