During the recent session of the National Assembly, the parliamentary secretary for Defence, while replying to members' queries, stated that a spate of fire incidents on brand new Boeing 777s, was due to use of a defective brand of grease.
The matter in question has been widely reported in the press, and pertains to four reported cases of fire in the landing gear area of Boeing 777s, which required emergency landing back at Manchester, London and other stations. This created scare and fear amongst hundreds of passengers.
The question now arises as to who was responsible, for ordering the use of this grease, not recommended by the Boeing company?.
What action has been taken against the concerned man and why did the PIA wait for a series of such mishaps to occur?.
It has also been alleged that the use of defective grease, was reported by PIA's technical handling agents in UK, after investigations were ordered by their civil aviation.
This is a very serious matter and needs to be probed properly and conclusively, if passenger confidence in safety, is a priority for PIA.
PIA bought these expensive brand of new aircraft only recently and this incident surely does not qualify to be termed as a teething problem.
The reported complaints of defects in seats installed, inflight equipment etc, point to some sinister motives of those concerned and cannot be an oversight.
PIA has more than its share of such people.
Then there has been this incident of a GM, who was caught in an intoxicated state, accompanying former PM on his visit to Masjed Nabvi in Madina.
There have also been reports of numerous such complaints against the same man, while he was posted in London, New York, Dubai etc.
Similar reports of behaviour unbecoming of an officer have also been reported against another senior executive, who was in Jeddah during the last Haj operation.
It is time the chairman PIA, who has put his reputation at stake and got enormous funds from government, realises that only honest, qualified and disciplined professionals can deliver. They may not be good at buttering the boss, or faking figures, but can deliver.
PIA has a loyal set of ethnic clients, who need proper reliable service, at an affordable price tag. Not much marketing skills are required to retain such customers. All you need is to take care of them. They are simple people, with even simpler demands.
This is hardly a difficult target to achieve.