The Senate’s standing committee on aviation, on Wednesday, the committee met with Senator Mushahidullah Khan in the chair. It was suggested that to expedite the process, the matter should be submitted to the prime minister and the federal cabinet so that an effective probe body can be formulated on the issue.
What was PIA meeting about?
On Wednesday they asked the relevant authorities to expeditiously implement its earlier recommendation of forming a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the alleged corruption in the construction of the Islamabad International Airport (IIAP).
During the meeting, Aviation Secretary Hassan Jamy briefed the law-makers about ongoing inquiries which are being conducted by teams of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), into different the contract packages awarded during the development of the airport. He said that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had paid Rs.94 billion to different companies by June 30, 2020, for the development of the airport.
Because of this, Rs.81.482 billion was spent under ‘Different Work Packages’ and is being probed by the 2 agencies.
The meeting further got an in-camera briefing on a report submitted by the ladies Protection Committee of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
The committee also listened to the relevant officials during a case about harassment at the workplace.
Later, PIA officials shared details about the ensign carrier’s Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) and its projected financial implications.
They said PIA’s total strength was around 14,500 [including outsourced staff] while it currently features a fleet of 29 aircraft, which cost Rs2.06 billion per month.
When compared with other airlines, the officials said the PIA features a ratio of 500 employees per aircraft, while Qatar had 133, Emirates 231, Turkish 94, and Etihad 211. Qatar Airways is working with 240 aircraft and a complete staff 32,000 employees, Emirates operates 269 airplanes with 62,356 employees, Turkish Airlines has 329 aircraft and a workforce of 31,000 people. Etihad Airways has 102 airplanes.
In the PIA, the officials said, the eligibility for early retirement was 20 years of service alongside all applicable benefits.
But by benchmarking the 20-year cut-off service limit, employees who have completed 19 years of service could also be bereft of terminal benefits that were allowed with completing 20 years of service.
By addressing the disparity, PIA officials said a cut-off had primarily been supported 18 years of service.
The segregation of below 18 years of service had been made in two classes, including employees with but 10 years of service and employees who have quit 10 years and up to 18 years of service.
They said the projected total one-time payout of the VSS for 3,200 employees, including provident fund, stands at Rs12.87 billion. While the annual gross salary impact for these employees are going to be approximately Rs.4.2-billion.
They clarified that PIA’s management is trying to organize attractive packages for those employees meaning to enjoy VSS.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Senators Faisal Javed, Nauman Wazir Khattak, Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah, Sherry Rehman, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Sajjad Hussain Turi, and Behramand Khan Tangi, besides senior officers of Aviation Division and PIA.