PIA sacks six pilots over fake degrees 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sacked six pilots for submitting fake educational degrees and other documents, airline officials confirmed here.

Among the pilots who have been sacked included Captain Fahim and Captain Arshad, who have been flying VIP flights including prime ministers and presidents for past several years.

Other disgraced pilots included Captain Zaib, Captain Shayan, Captain Asmat and Captain Shahid Mannan.

Meanwhile, Khaleej Times learnt that the airline management was reviewing cases of over 500 employees including senior officers, who have allegedly submitted fake educational documents.

"If found guilty of holding fake degrees and other educational documents the management will terminate their services," a PIA officer said.

Meanwhile, briefing a National Assembly panel in Islamabad on Thursday, PIA Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Asif Yasin Malik said the fact about their fake degrees came to light after a fully fledged crackdown on such degree holders was launched across the airline's ranks. "There are issues of corruption and incompetence as well," he added.

"PIA is a bleeding organisation at this juncture and needs some time for recovery before getting rid of fake degree holders and incompetent and corrupt officials," the PIA chairman maintained.

Informing the committee that PIA had already started preparations for next year's Haj operation, the PIA chairman maintained they had no issue if the government floated tenders for the operation and handed it over to another airline.

"PIA needs Rs25 billion on an urgent basis to pull out of the current crisis," Malik told the committee.