Promotions in PIA

The Punjab provincial government decided on 2nd May to curb out of turn promotions in various provincial government departments and instead give meritorious performance awards to those performing finely.
This decision was taken after complaints were filed for gross violations on the basis of recommendations, political favouritism and administrative mismanagement, which resulted in lowering wrote output of the government employees.
The services Tribunal and superior judiciary intervention on behalf of the aggrieved employees was one of the factors. There are also reports that compalints received by the Presidency were on the rise.
PIA is one such organisation, where promotions to senior cadre over the last decade have been made purely on recommendations and desire by various CEOs to have a team of loyalists, without regard to their qualifications, corporate rules or ethics.
The most glaring example is that of a PIA employee, who was allowed to proceed on "leave without pay", a facility under rules created to encourage employees to seek higher education, but seldom given for this purpose. It was initially termed as " study leave'.
However, this was used by people with powerful connections, to seek time out for gainful employment in other aviation-related organisations, while keeping their foothold in PIA, to come back when time runs out and no gainful employment is on offer.
This study leave or "leave without pay" was under the rules only for three years, during the whole period of service. There is a total prohibition under PIA rules for gainful employment in any aviation business, during the period an employee is on PIA payrolls.
However, inspite of such clear-cut and elaborate rules, the management in PIA has been giving waivers, beyond the powers specified in rules, in granting extensions in leave without pay. An employee proceeding on " leave without pay" under the rules can rejoin his service, however with loss of seniority equal to the period of his absence from duty.
Although PIA rules do not allow an individual to proceed for more than 3 years for " leave without pay" or deputation, those who do so and have the right connections, not only manage to come back, but are rewarded with immediate promotions to senior executive cadres.
Recently a PIA employee, who was absent from duty for almost 8 years, has had his absence regularised backdated, and given a very senior executive assignment. His last employment was with a US-based company " AERO-EX". A deal has been signed between PIA and Aero-Ex for procurement of aircraft spares.
Such gross violations of corporate ethics and abuse of so-called powers of discretion, can only occur in a third world country, where there is no rule of law. This has shattered the morale of PIA Employees.