According to the advertise PIA had published against the vacant post of COO, the candidate should have been masters in business administration and preferably aeronautical engineer.
While, there are no details of academic credentials of COO of PIA from Germany, Bernd Hildenbrand, in a CV submitted by him. His CV mentions short courses and apprenticeship only. He has completed a two-week General Management Program from British’s Cranfield University.
The advertise also had demanded 15-20 years experience of marketing, finance and fleet planning, however Hildenbrand has experience of terminal building and airport services only. He has also never been in high-level management of German airline Lufthansa.
According to a source in the aviation department, Hildenbrand should not have been shortlisted for the post because of not fulfilling the requirements given in the advertisement, but he has been appointed as COO PIA.
A PIA spokesperson told the channel that Bernd has been hired on the basis of technical qualification in the field of aviation and diversified experience of airline industry.
A high official of aviation division revealed that educational certificates of the German national were even not looked into.
“He could only get clearance from Intelligence Bureau and not ISI, however under the pressure of higher authorities he was appointed by only mentioning ‘subject to security clearance’,” the official said.
His file had even gone to the prime minister because of his being overage, above 60, however the pressure group got it signed from there as well.
The German national is hired on hefty amount of salary along other perks such as free visit to foreign countries.
This should also be noted here that the national flag carrier airline is facing billions of rupee loss.
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