PAC Lauds PIA's Successful Evacuation Operations During Afghan Crisis

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Sep, 2021 ) :The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Thursday lauded Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for evacuating thousands of people including diplomats, staffs of diplomatic missions, international agencies and journalists from Kabul in a successful evacuation operation.

The committee that met here at Parliament House, discussed the progress report of the paras/ issues referred to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by the 15th PAC and its Sub-Committees.

The committee said PIA had played a great role in ensuring evacuation operation from Kabul on humanitarian basis amid serious security crisis.

The members of the committee also appreciated PIA for initiating its operation to Skardu from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Sialkot and Faisalabad.

Chief Executive Officer PIA Air Marshal (R) Arshad Malik informed the committee that the PIA services during evacuation operations were highly acknowledged and appreciated by international agencies.

He informed the committee that normal flights operation was not resumed to Afghanistan.

Chairman PAC Rana Tanveer Hussain appreciated PIA chief for his leadership during the crisis and said Air Marshal (R) Arshad Malik had done commendable job during the crisis.

Director General Operations National Accountability Bureau (NAB) briefed the committee about the progress report of the Paras/issues referred to NAB by the 15th PAC and it's sub-committee.

He said that PAC had referred a total 307 audit paras to NAB and would complete the task soon.

The PAC interventions had helped in recovering Rs 480 billion so far, he added.

The committee recommended that NAB should expedite work on PAC referred cases to ensure maximum recovery of stashed national exchequer's money. � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Welcoming the new Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), the Chairman PAC expressed the hope that he would render his services more efficiently.

The committee also examined the audit para regarding loss due to launching of premier service flight operations.

The committee directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to share the investigation report with audit officials and PAC.

The committee also discussed the audit para related to loss due to acquiring of iPads on rental basis by PIA that cost heavily the national exchequer.

In its reply PIA management said that the matter was under investigation by FIA. The committee recommended to fix responsibility in the case.

The committee also examined the audit para related to the appointment on fake degrees and educational certificates in PIA.

The PIA Management informed the committee that 21 fake degree cases were in court, adding that all reported employees were dismissed from their services.

Members of the committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood, MNA Syed Hussain Tariq, MNA Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood, MNA Munaza Hassan, MNA Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Riaz Fatyana and Muhammad Ibrahim Khan. MNA Syed Naveed Qamar attended the meeting via video conference.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials of Ministry Aviation Division and NAB.