Senate body concerned over increasing corruption in PIA

Senate Standing Committee on Interior expressed displeasure over increase in corruption in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which are instrumental to increasing losses in the Airline.
"The Airline is facing a loss of over Rs 88 billion, it has liabilities of over Rs 150 billion in shape of loans, but it is paying $30,000 to its Deputy managing Director Saleem Sayani as salary", said Senator Talha Mehmood, Chairman Standing Committee during the meeting held to have detailed briefing from Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on pending inquiries regarding corruption cases in different organisations.
The meeting was presided by Chairman Standing Committee, Senator Talha Mehmood, while Senators Begum Najma Hameed, Gulshan Saeed, Jamal Khan Leghari, Sughra Imam, Additional Secretary Interior Najeebullah, Additional Director General FIA Tehseen Ahmed, Commandant Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts Brigadier Nadeem and Managing Director PIA, Captain Nadeem Khan Yousufzai along with Deputy Managing Director SNGPL Khalid Waheed Shariq and officials of PIA, SNGPL, FIA, Interior Ministry, Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion.
Talha Mehmood observed that Sayani has been given an accommodation in Dubai, while he is being paid 7 per cent commission on business, he brings for the airline. "This is a fit case for the FIA and a lot of home work has been done by the committee on it and details will be provided to Agency", he said.
He termed the PIA as a prestigious corporation and face of the country saying that Emirates Airlines has emulated the PIA in past but now Emirates is far ahead from the PIA. He said that the national flag carrier is near to collapse and urged Managing Director PIA to take measures for its revival. "If PIA management takes up all corruption cases on merit and bring the people involved in corruption to task, the Airline will see quick improvement in its financial matters", Talha Mehmood said.
Talha Mehmood also raised the question about hundreds of thousand bags and wrist watches the PIA has purchased for Hajj pilgrims three years ago, saying that billions were embezzled in the scam as a bag of Rs 150 was charged Rs 1500, watch of Rs 15 was charged Rs 300, while pilgrims have also refused to take these bags. The Committee also questioned that why PIA is establishing academy in Nawabshah when there is terrible financial crisis.
Nadeem Yousafzai, MD PIA responded to the query saying that the academy is being set up in Nawabshah to overcome the shortage of pilots. He said that the PIA at present is facing shortage of over 40 pilots, as the Airline owns over 200 aircrafts at present. He failed to give any estimate of the cost on the project, saying that the project was initiated by previous management of the Airline.
Yousafzai assured the Committee that he would give details on every query raised during the meeting. He also assured that financial discipline would be introduced in the Airline to come out of the losses. Talha Mehmood asked the PIA chief to apprise the Committee about the details of the companies owned by general managers of the PIA, which are supplying different products to the Airline.
The Committee directed the FIA to take the issue seriously to surface the people behind the multi billion corruption scam in the PIA. The Committee showed concern over declining quality of services in the PIA, saying that poor services in spite of high rates are not any service to poor. The committee asked the reason of losses when people are not getting tickets.
FIA informed the Committee that the PIA authorities are non-co-operative in inquiries regarding the corruption and embezzlement pending in the FIA and the Airline authorities have not provided any details on five pending inquiries. Deputy Director (Crime) FIA Ijaz Shah apprised the Committee that total five inquiries are pending related to hiring old vehicles for pick and drop of the employees in place of zero meter vehicles. He said that funds worth millions of rupees are involved in the scam, but the PIA is not ready to give any details.
The Chairman of the Committee directed the PIA authorities to ensure the early provision of details on the pending inquires to FIA, so that the people involved in the scam be taken to task. Senator Sughra Imam expressed displeasure on response from Defence Ministry, saying that it has become a precedent that inquiries are being conduct to save the corrupt people. "The corrupt people are being suspended to save and later they are being reinstated with all perks and privileges", she said. She asked the Defence Ministry to provide details, as how many people were sacked for corruption during last three years. "It is strange that Defence Ministry is raising objections on FIA inquiry," she maintained.