A surprising revelation was made in a meeting the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation, when authorities said that all pilots of the Pakistan International Airlines want to quit their jobs.

DG Civil Aviation Khaqan Murtaza told that the reason why numerous flights were being delayed was a shortage of pilots.

When asked why there was a shortage of pilots, the committee was told that all pilots have told the airline that they want to quit. He added that a 35% tax had been imposed on the salaries and an additional tax had been levied on their flying hours as well.

CEO PIA Umar Amir Hayat told the meeting that issues had been spotted in the licenses of 141 pilots, of whuch only 69 pilots have been cleared so far. Senator Sherry Rehman remarked that an irresponsible statement by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar had caused irreparable damage to the national flag carrier.

Senator Mohsin Aziz also asked the CEO if PIA would ever become a profitable enterprise. When the CEO replied that the airline was in profit ‘operationally’, he was asked where teh deficits came from every year.

Committee members also expressed their reservations over reports that PIA tickets were being sold at lower rates abroad compared to Pakistan and asked that a report be submitted.