Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik appointed chairman PIA

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has accorded an approval for the appointment of Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik as the chairman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced.

In a press conference following the federal cabinet session on Thursday, the Information Minister made the announcement of posting the Airforce personnel as the national flag carrier chief.

“PIA is in a debt of Rs406 billion,” the Minister said, adding, “The new chairman of the national carrier has been directed to “immediately fix the institution’s economic condition.”

Further informing the media, Chaudhry said, “Aoun Abbas has been appointed as chairman of Baitul Maal,” and federal Minister for Privatization Mohammad Mian Soomro will be the new chairman of the Privatization Commission, he added.

Mr. Chaudhry apprised that the government has also decided to conduct an audit of new Islamabad Airport as its expenditure was more than the allocation. A team will be constituted to probe that how a project of Rs 36 billion was completed at a cost of Rs 100 billion, he remarked.

Referring to the newly-launched housing scheme, the Information Minister stated that the project was completely transparent and it would help the poor to have their own homes. A registration form has been made available for Rs 250, he added.