ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar revealed on Thursday that the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) suffered a loss of Rs. 67.31 billion till the third quarter of last year, after the deduction of taxes.
Replying to a question raised by Syed Zafar Ali Shah of Pakistan People's Party in the Lower House during the question-hour session, he informed that the corporation suffered a loss of Rs. 11.69 billion in the first three quarters of last year, as against the total loss of Rs. 5.82, it suffered in the year 2009.
He said that the PIAC suffered Rs. 12.76, Rs. 13.40 and Rs. 36.14 in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. The minister said steps were being taken to make the PIAC profitable.
He said the PIA had finalized and submitted its business plan, which was a strategic roadmap for the next five years.
The management, in the business plan commits itself to strengthening culture of ethics and compliance, aggressive revenue growth through efficient marketing plans and implementation of stringent cost control measures resulting in substantial savings over the period plan, he said.
To another question asked by PML-N's Shireen Arshad Khan, the minister said the national airline was only operating to 27 countries out of more than 250 around the globe.
"The reason for not operating to other countries is that it is not economically viable. The airline operates to any destination where it finds the deployment of its limited fleet is beneficial to the carrier," he said.
The minister said efforts were being made to improve security system to stop entry of irrelevant persons at airports throughout the country, adding that Airport Security Force (ASF) was vigilant to prevent illegal activities there.
He said the Director General of ASF was supervising an inquiry being conducted over the incident in which a boy managed to go the wheels of the plane and fell on rooftop of a house in Lahore some days back. Ahmad Muktar said the Ministry of Defence was also looking into a proposal to double the strength of ASF to improve its efficiency, however "we are taking maximum work with limited force."
To a supplementary question, he said Rs. 20 were being charged from each visitor at Islamabad airport to avoid entry of irrelevant persons and ensure improved security system there.
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