RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Inter­natio­nal Airlines (PIA) has dismissed 23 employees for possessing fake academic certificates, taking bribes, indulging in smuggling and stealing official record and exonerated 10 others after completing the due process.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Khan said on Monday that action had been taken in accordance with the airline’s rules and regulations.

He said the process of accountability was going on without any pressure and it would not stop.

Mr Khan said the number of employees dismissed from service so far had crossed the figure of 700 as the process of reforms and accountability in the airline was moving forward.

According to the airline’s human resource department, the PIA management initiated action against 38 employees in October this year.

The total number of staffers shown the door tops 700

“Discipline is the most important aspect of any organisation as it binds the employees and motivates them to follow the rules and regulations. It ensures that individuals maintain harmony at the workplace and work as a team to achieve organisational goals.

“Discipline is in fact the lifeline of an organisation. It is, therefore, important to appreciate hardworking and dedicated employees and punish defaulters found guilty after transparent and unbiased inquiries as per law,” the department said.

The PIA spokesman said the national flag carrier had fired five employees for having fake academic credentials and six on charges of long absence from duty without notice.

He said another employee was dismissed for illegally disclosing official information, while two others were sacked for committing corruption and embezzlement. Three employees were dismissed for involvement in an illegal/immoral act of omission.

An employee was dismissed for doing smuggling, while five were sacked for stealing and destroying official records, he added.

PIA has demoted three employees for non-compliance of orders and reduced salaries of five others for violating standard operating procedures.

The spokesman said letters of displeasure had been issued to seven employees, while 10 workers have been found innocent.

Abdullah Khan said the management had also issued certificates of appreciation to 11 employees for commitment and high degree of professionalism and gave cash awards to five others for working beyond the call of duty.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) held its fourth e-kachehri in Islamabad on Monday.

A spokesman for the Aviation Division said in a press release that CAA Director General Hassan Nasir Jamy presided over the e-kachehri and invited people to come up with queries regarding civil aviation issues.

The deputy DG airport services, deputy DG regulatory (on telephone) and the director HR also joined the CAA chief at e-kachehri.

During the kachehri, 51 queries were received regarding provision and maintenance of facilities at airports, upgrade of Instrument Landing System based on Artificial Intelligence Safety systems, mobile signals and free Wifi internet registration issues at Islamabad airport, reopening of pilots’ and other licensing exams, e-gates installation for immigration at all international airports, resolution of pending issues of commercial land lease/agreement, domestic flight operation for Chitral and Muzaffarabad airports, CAA employees, etc.

The spokesman said the CAA director general responded to most of the queries on the spot and directed the quarters concerned to sort out things as per merit at the earliest.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2020