Islamabad (June 30, 2018): The Supreme Court on Saturday ordered the auditor general of Pakistan to submit audit details of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for the last decade within the next 10 weeks.
A two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, was hearing a case pertaining to the privatisation of the national carrier.
The top court ordered immediate start of the audit with the Terms of Reference (ToR) to be submitted in the next 15 days.
At the beginning of the hearing, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar remarked that retired captain Shujaat Azeem, the former special assistant to the prime minister on aviation, be allowed to travel conditionally.
Immediate Improvement Not Possible: PIA Informs SC
Administration of the Pakistan International Airlines apprised the Supreme Court of Pakistan that bringing immediate improvements to the national carrier was not possible.
The apex court was hearing the airline’s privatization case, where the PIA’s administration submitted a response to the court stating that Pakistan’s unfavourable circumstances have affected the airline.
The response further said that Political situation of the country made negative impact on PIA, losses on most routes and excess staff were the primary reasons that resulted in the airline’s losses.
“Most aircraft have been grounded since last year. Political interference and a largely demotivated staff have added to the challenges faced by the national carrier,” PIA administration stated.
The airline’s total loss reached Rs406 billion, with a total of just Rs111 billion assets. “A 30 per cent improvement in the sale of tickets is because of the new administrative steps,” the response said.
Moreover, the airline’s income increased by five per cent in the past year, with an 8.5 per cent improvement in income from cargo service.
PIA’s response also explained that intent to remove the national flag from the aircraft was not involved in the decision to place a Markhor’s picture on the tail.
The flag’s placement was moved to the centre of the aircrafts’ bodies. The response further stated that a possibility to even consider removing the national flag from the aircraft did not exist.
The response requested the court to allow the recruitment of qualified staff and bar union leaders from using propaganda as a means of creating hindrances.
SC Bars PIA From Using Logo of Markhor on Its Planes
On May 13, the Supreme Court on Sunday barred Pakistan International Airline (PIA) from using the logo of Markhor on its planes instead of the national flag.
During the hearing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar inquired what was replacing the Pakistani flag on the planes’ tails, PIA Managing Director Musharraf Rasool Cyan replied that the new logo will be of the country’s national animal: Markhor.
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In response to the chief justice’s question pertaining to the cost of said endeavour, the MD stated that it would cost Rs2.7 million per plane to change the logo. However, Justice Nisar observed that the cost for each plane would be Rs3.4 million and sought a report detailing tender and contractor information.
The Apex Court barred PIA from using Logo of Markhor on its jets by removing national flags.
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