PIA asked to put its act together
By Asghar Ali Mubarak

ISLAMABAD—The Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedures & Privileges met at the Parliament House on Friday under the Chairmanship of Senator Col (Retd) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi has asked the senior management of the Pakistan International Affairs Corporation (PIAC) to make a Herculean efforts not only for reviving the past glory of the National Flag carrier but also for injecting greater discipline, efficiency and professionalism into the organization it is too late.
The committee met at the Parliament House to consider the Privilege Motions moved by Senator hafiz Rashid Ahmed on the question of breach of privilege arising out of the alleged discourteous behavior of Assistant Political Agent with the mover and by Senator Kalsoom Perveen on the breach of privilege arising out of the alleged refusal of the Incharge PIA Counter, Rawal Lounge, Islamabad Airport to issue boarding card as well as misbehavior of the official with the mover. " The current nose dive must be averted by initiating immediate remedial measures for inculcating more efficiency and discipline along with undertaking steps to improve its financial health by shedding the excesses baggage over staffing which remains its bane that has literally plagued the organization," observed the member of the committee.
The Chairman Committee deplored the trend, witnessed over the years of making recommendations for appointments in PIA by the politicians and other well connected and influential people and then lamenting the lack discipline, inefficacy and mismanagement currently being observed there and termed it as a logical consequences of years of 'Sufarshi Culture' prevailing in the country.
The root cause of the current mass, he said, must be traced to this national malaise of considering appointments in public sector organizations as traditional spoils of political offices.
Though it cannot be corrected overnight, we should at least make a beginning, he reminded. He particularly underlined the need of better management at the middle and junior levels, as they have to deal with the bulk of the passengers.