Apex Court allows PIA to make to make 205 new professional recruitments while postponing the recruitment of 45 others

ISLAMABAD, July 05 (SABAH): The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday allowed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to make 205 new professional recruitments while postponing the recruitment of 45 others.

The PIA had sought permission for 250 recruitments of pilots, cabin crew, IT specialists, finance and management officials. In its verdict on Wednesday, the apex court allowed the recruitment of pilots, cabin crew and IT specialists.

The court has also directed the national carrier’s administration to make the recruitment process clear and transparent.

During the hearing on Wednesday, Justice Ayesha A. Malik questioned “Why PIA is not able to pay its dues and why does it have to recruit more people?”

Justice Ijazul Ahsan also made his remarks and said that the quality of services of the PIA is not up to the mark, adding that new recruitments will burden the organisation by more than Rs90 million.

PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat told the court the national airline’s profit for the last six months is Rs3 billion and flights are operating on profitable routes. He added that the PIA is starting flight operations on international and national routes.

Justice Ahsan then remarked that the flight staff of other airlines is less and questioned if the recruitment will be on a permanent or on a contractual basis.

To this, the PIA CEO replied that the recruitment will be on a one-year renewable contract basis.

After hearing the arguments of the CEO and additional attorney general, the apex court allowed the recruitment of 205 employees.

The PIA in its fresh application had stated that there were a number of key positions currently lying vacant which are required to be filled in order to ensure smooth operations of the organisation.

“Without the induction of the said new employees the airline will not be able to meet its operational requirements and could once again run into financial difficulties as a result of not being able to operate at full capacity.”