Govt focusing on PIA upgradation rather than privatization: Mehtab
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PESHAWAR: (APP) Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan on Friday turned down the speculations regarding the privatization of PIA and said the government has decided to modernize and upgrade the airline on commercial basis.
He said PIA was a national and prestigious institution and the government was striving hard to uplift its standards on the recommendations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He shared these views while talking to the media during his visit to Bacha Khan International Airport Peshawar after inspecting different areas and under construction work.
Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan said PIA enjoyed an exemplary and memorable past which had paved an ideal path for different international airlines.
It is very unfortunate that it lost its dignity and performance because of corruption and poor management which resulted in the financial deficit to this airline, he said. The financial deficit of last year was Rs 36 billion, he added.
He said that induction of latest and modern technology in PIA was being made to maximize its efficiency and productivity.
"We are well aware of different weak areas which need reformation as per modern time," he said. The government has started to restructure all the administrative and operational matters to ensure the best services of this national airline including safety measures, manage the delay flights, purchase of new airplanes.
The government is determined to run this institution on purely commercial and professional basis, he said and warned that noncompliance in this regard will not be tolerated at any cost. He said open Merit system and transparency were the grace of restructuring process.
Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan instructed all officials not to compromise on quality at any level.
On the occasion, members of the special committee of Senate were briefed about the existing condition, expansion and renovation work at Bacha Khan International Airport. It was informed that rapid work worth Rs 3 billion was being carried out to modernize and upgrade PIA as per international standards.
