PIA's retired employees

PIA's management has graciously given a raise in pension to all retired employees ranging from 400% to 20%.
Those who retired prior to 1989 got an exuberantly high raise of 400%, whilst those who retired after 1996 received 20% rise.
The retired PIA employees association is headed by a former PIA Captain, who incidentally is also Director, Flight Operations of another Pakistani-owned airline (Aero Asia), that competes with PIA.
PIA's former Chief Operating Officer, who was reported to have been forced to resign, had also served in two other airlines and a leading travel agency before re-employment in PIA on contract, after the age of superannuation.
He is reported to have played a key role in this more than generous grant by Chairman PIAC.
Although the vast majority (over 80%) of retired employees, served their organisation honestly and with dedication, the fact remains that a few of those who served as senior executives, were responsible for PIA's downfall.
This management has been very vocal in blaming previous PIA managements for gross financial and administrative irregularities.
The airline was reported to be on verge of bankruptcy, when Chaudhry Ahmed Saeed took over.
There were a lot of revenue leakages and irregularities in employment etc, which was reported to be the cause of PIA's decline from an airline of international repute to a loss making venture.
Those who served at helm of affairs during those days, cannot absolve themselves of their responsibility of having failed to discharge their duties and moral obligations.
There was also the influx of many influential persons of mediocre capability during the military regime of Zia-ul Haq and various civilian governments that followed him.
PIA's human resources declined and so did the moral fibre and culture of its executives.
All major travel/cargo agencies and contracts for supply of various goods ranging from catering to supply of aircraft spares, were in the hands of firms owned by PIA employees or their families.
The Open Sky Policy led to the opening of more Pakistani airlines. Most of these airlines were either opened by former PIA employees, or they recruited them for key assignments.
Senior executives on the verge of retirement started nurturing these airlines and obliged them on promises of securing employment after retirement from PIA. In the process, PIA suffered both administratively and financially.
Leakages of revenues, spares, engine oil etc registered a steep rise. This nexus of a few corrupt retired and serving airline executives, allowed former PIA employees serving in airlines competing with PIA, not only to frequent its offices but have access to sensitive information, that harmed their former organisation.
All paperwork required to obtain AOC was done in PIA premises with the patronage of senior executives, who later on joined these airlines.
Whilst this policy served for the welfare of a few, it almost deprived a vast majority of honest employees of their jobs.
One such airline, namely Safe Air, was headed by a serving PIA employee along with two other regular employees working as directors.
No other organisation has witnessed such abuse of the "principle of conflict of interest" and continues to do so.
It has now become an accepted norm in this organisation and something needs to be done before it is too late.
All the hard work and efforts by this management, will be lost until it kills all the snakes within its fold.
Any former PIA employee who joins a competitive airline or any other Airline-related business should be declared as persona non grata and all PIA premises should be out of bound for him.
Similarly no serving PIA employee, should be allowed to run a business concern, whether owned by self or family, to enter into any business contract with PIA or any other airline or airline-related business.
These laws exist in the satute books, both of PIA and our nation. All we have to do is to enforce them strictly without any exception or grant of waiver.