The sub-committee of NA Standing Committee on Defence met here on Friday to examine the rescheduling of loans that PIA acquired for financial support during previous government's tenure. After detailed deliberations, the sub-committee assured that they would fully support the rescheduling of loans and recommend to the government to support improvement in the financial position of PIA.
Convenor of the sub-committee, Begum Ishrat Ashraf chaired the meeting, which was attended by MNAs Syed Haider Shah, Captain (Retd) Rai Mujtaba Khural, Dr Talat Mahesar, Sardar Talib Hussain Nakai and Managing Director PIA, Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon. The committee noted with concern the financial position of the airline and the losses of about Rs 65 billion.
The meeting observed that the root cause of these losses are the loans acquired by PIA during the tenure of the previous government between 2003 and 2007. The committee directed the PIA management to submit the airline's 5-year Business Plan for improving its operational earnings, in case the government agrees to address the previous loans. The sub-committee members agreed to take up and address all genuine issues of PIA both in the Parliament and with the government.