ISLAMABAD – Senate Standing Committee on Aviation Wednesday observed thataction should be simultaneously taken against those officers and boardmembers who appointed people in PIA with fake degrees.The committee also observed that the review committee of PakistanInternational Airlines Corporation(PIAC) should maintain a uniform criteriato deal with the cases of fake degrees of PIA employees.The committee also observed that the earlier directions were not to givestrongest punishment of termination but give lighter punishments to empireswho have had longer services.The committee was told by head of the review committee that the cases offake degrees were divided in three categories and out of the 650 cases 15were called for physical appearance before the committee and documents of300 people were reviewed by the committee. The committee chairman remarkedthat there are at least 12 people still working in PIA on fake degrees ofsimilar nature.The meeting held under the chairmanship of Senator Mushahidullah Khan atParliament House, was also attended among others by Senators Sherry Rehman,Nauman Wazir Khattak, Behramand Tangi, Muzaffar Hussain Shah, ManzoorKakar, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Faisal Javed Khan, Minister for AviationGhulam Sarwar, Secretary Aviation, officers from PIA, aviation and otherrelevant government departments.While discussing the matter of corruption in New Islamabad InternationalAirport the mover expressed his dissatisfaction from the delay andinadequate responses given to the question of taking those responsible incorruption to task.The committee was told that several inquiries are still in place on theissue internally, in FIA and NAB as well as some arbitration going on andfinal response can be given after they reach some substantial conclusion.It was told that a cabinet sub-committee is also constituted which isoverseeing the matter.The Committee directed that the report on the matter had to be submitted tothe committee in one month but it still hasn’t come and an interim reportshould come to these committee in the next one month.The committee also recommended that ideally the inquiry should be conductedby only one agency or through a joint investigation committee otherwisethey can be contradictory conclusions and more time will be taken incompletion.The committee also discussed the issue of agreement executed between PCAAand M/S Air Ciro regarding compulsory wrapping of the check-in baggage atall airports. Director PIA told the committee that the decision has beenwithdrawn after seeing the difficulties faced by passengers and thewrapping is now optional and price has been reduced. The committee observedthat the matter is not as simple as it is being presented.
The members of the committee were of the view that the details ofagreement, tendering process and the contractors be shared with thecommittee. It was also pointed out that once the tender is finalised theterms and conditions cannot be changed and by changing the price civilaviation has violated the PPRA rules.While briefing the committee on the proposed bifurcation of Civil AviationAuthority the Secretary Aviation told the committee that some functions ofCAA brought conflict of interest in the regularity and services function.He said that no one will be laid off and no one will be affected in termsof service structure and the only change as result of bifurcation will bein terms of administration.Regarding the incident of crash landing at Gilgit Airport the committee wastold that the internal inquiry of PIA has found that there was notechnical problem in the aircraft and the burden is on the pilot becauseshe landed with high speed and she should have done a go around.
The committee was told that that the pilot is a thoroughly trained pilotand an instructor as well and there is no competency or experience issue.She, however, has been suspended till the completion of inquiry.
The committee also adopted the report of the sub-committee about two issuesof PIA employees on pension policy and harassment at workplace. Thecommittee was told that initially there was no concept of pensions in PIAbut currently PIA is disbursing 1.8 billion annually in the head ofpensions.
The Committee was told that proposal of increasing pensions at 36% wastaken to board and after long deliberations the board agreed in 15%.
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The committee directed to take the matter UO on board meeting again andalso asked for a comparative analysis of pension percentages in othercompanies of similar nature.
The Committee decide to calm the affectee and the alleged harasser to nextmeeting in the harassment at workplace incident.
