Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed the plea filed by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) seeking the urgent hiring of 250 employees including 80 pilots and directed the national flag carrier to submit a business plan and revenue details in the next hearing, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday.

While hearing the plea filed by PIA, Supreme Court Judge Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi questioned the PIA from where the national flag carrier will pay the salaries to additional employees. 

The apex court asked PIA for what post it wants to hire the employees for and what the reason for hiring is.

While giving arguments, the PIA lawyer said that the national flag carrier wants to purchase five new planes. Upon which the apex court ordered to submit route plan and payment plan of planes. 

The PIA lawyer said that, since 2018, 6,000 employees have been removed from the service.

Justice Mazahar Ali said that PIA’s flights to Europe, America and Canada have already been ended. Moreover, no one wants to travel on PIA’s domestic flights, he added.

Justice Ejaz-ul-Hassan said what the 80 pilots would do when the total number of planes is 30.

The PIA chief financial officer said that there were 370 pilots but out of them, 34 have resigned from their posts.

It is pertinent to mention here that the apex court imposed a ban on hiring in PIA in 2018. He said that PIA earned Rs 154 billion in 11 months.

He informed the court that 20 planes are the property of PIA whereas 10 planes are on lease. He said that seven planes of PIA are taking part in international operations.

Justice Ejaz-ul-Hassan said that the PIA chief financial officer has portrayed a beautiful picture of the condition of PIA but the reality is much different. 

The judge said that it seems that PIA would ask grant from the government to pay installments for planes and salaries.

The apex court has adjourned the hearing till the first week of January.

 

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori