Senate Defence Committee calls for improvement in PIA's working and performance

Date : March 4, 2013

The Senate Defence Committee, in its meeting today, deliberated upon various issues concerning Defence Housing Authorities, Military Lands and Cantonments, Pakistan International Airline and Airport Security Force. The Chairman of the Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that living to its moto of bridging the gap between Khaki and Mofti, the Committee will try to resolve all the outstanding issues in light of new realities of changing Pakistan where more transparency and quick response is needed.

The committee was presided over by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed at Parliament House today. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed expressed the hope that the committee would proactively engage in such a discourse which would help in formulating recommendations on new lines to improve functioning of the organizations and defence institutions.

The Committee asked about the legality of Defence Housing Authorities in the Country. It proposed that the administrators of a DHA should be appointed by the Ministry of Defence instead of Army Chief. The Committee also suggested to make the governing body of the DHA more representative and efficient.

The Committee was updated on the issue of building rights by Cantonment Board Rawalpinidi to owners of plots near Old Jail. However, the information provided was termed insufficient. It was decided to defer the item till next meeting.  The Committee took exception to the alleged misbehavior of military check post personnel with the Senators and members of the Parliament. It directed the ministry of Defence to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure besides issue fresh instruction to avoid unwarranted security checks in the Cantonments areas especially in Peshawar and Malir Cantt.

Members of the Committee expressed their dismay over the poor performance of Pakistan International Airlines and regretted the unsatisfactory dealing of the passengers and flight delays. Chairman Senate Defence Committee, on behalf of the committee, assured all-out support to the PIA to bring improvement in its working and performance. The Committee directed the PIA management to improve quality of performance and services of the National Flag carrier. The Committee observed that PIA is a National asset and there was a dire need to put the organization on the track of profitability through good governance, professionalism and transparency.

During the meeting, the Defence Committee also approved the restructuring plan of the Airport Security Force, as per assurance at the time of approval of Airports Security Force (amendment) Bill 2012.

Earlier the committee was given a detailed briefing on the DHAs in the country. Administrators of DHAs Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi / Islamabad informed the committee about the legal status of the DHAs.  Whereas, MD PIA Mr. M. Junaid Yunus informed the committee on the issue of acquisition of new aircrafts for PIA besides opening up of new routes for the airline to earn more profit.  He assured the committee that induction of new aircrafts would help improve the functioning of the organization.

The meeting was attended among others by leader of the Opposition in the Senate Muhammad Ishaq Dar besides Senators Farhatullah Babar, Mrs. Sehar Kamran, Col ® Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Haji Muhammad Adeel and Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq.  Addl. Secretary Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Abdul Qadoos, MD PIA, DG MLC and DG ASF besides administrators of the DHAs and senior Officer of the Ministry and its attached departments were also present.  Special Secretary Senate Mr. Amjad Pervez also attended the meeting.

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