Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is planning to recruit around 50 officers on key posts from the open market in spite of facing a loss of Rs3 billion per month in its operations.
“The airline has invited applications for several positions including the chief of information technology, general managers, deputy general managers and managers on market-based salaries and fringe benefits,” said a senior PIA official.
“Recruitments will be made in the departments of research and development, human resources, marketing, handling, planning, sales and customers in a competitive way,” he said. “This is a step towards revitalisation of the national carrier as the airline considers human capital the centerpiece of its turnaround strategy.”
The advertisement to hire from the open market has sent a wave of resentment among the officers who have been working in the airline for the past 15 years in the same departments. Some of them had been awaiting promotion for a long time.
“The fresh hiring will definitely block the promotion of serving officers,” said another senior PIA officer, but requested anonymity.
“It is not a prudent decision to hire staff on market-based salaries while ignoring the deserving officers who were waiting for promotions.”
PIA had faced a Rs42-billion loss in its operations during 2014 and total loss accumulated to Rs3 trillion, the officer said.
