Time was when the PIA occupied pride of place among the airlines of the world. It was considered one of the best few airlines of the world in terms of safety standard, punctuality and cabin service. The PIA was instrumental in raising many new airlines of the middle east which are today doing roaring business. Our airline was at its zenith when persons like Air Marshal Nur Khan and Air Marshal Asghar used to head it. They were perfectionists, to a fault and left nothing to chance. They strictly believed in merit while making recruitment in PIA. They brooked no political interference in any affair of the airlines.
The rot started to set in the PIA the day political interference became the order of the day in its affairs. Today it has unfortunately touched its nadir. Its safety and maintenance standards have touched their low ebb. . Its planes no longer fly on time. It is overstaffed. Since long it is not being run like a commercial entity.
The government must save it from utter ruination. It can take lessons from those airlines of the world which are running in profit. Urgent remedial steps need to be taken to arrest its downward slide and before the damage caused to it is beyond repair.
POSTSCRIPT: Why the hell did the prime minister appoint a frail ailing person on the wrong side of eighty as governor Sind in the first place?It is in the air that realising his mistake the PM is toying with the idea of requesting him to resign on his own volition on health grounds.