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Air Marshal Arshad Malik appointed PIA chief, says Fawad Chaudhry
By News desk Published October 11, 2018
Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday announced that the government has appointed Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik as the chairman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Elaborating further, Chaudhry said that Air Marshal Malik has been given the task to look into the airline’s deficit worth Rs406 billion with a monthly operational loss of two billion rupees.
He added that the restructuring plan for PIA has been forwarded to the finance minister.
Plunderers will be held accountable, Fawad Chaudhry hits back at PML-N
Briefing the media after the federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran khan in Islamabad, Chaudhry said the cabinet discussed at length the procedure and course of action for the newly-launched “Naya Pakistan Housing Programme” to build five million houses in the country.
He said it was decided that state lands would be kept as collateral to banks while people will build their houses on that land,
Radio Pakistan reported.
Fawad said the land freed from the encroachment mafia will be utilised for this purpose in addition to spare lands owned by some government departments.
He said advertisements have been placed in the media for the appointment of new CEO of the airline. The minister said restructuring plan of the PIA has also been submitted to the finance minister.
Chaudhary said the cabinet has also decided to investigate construction cost of New Islamabad International Airport that exceeded from Rs38 billion to more than Rs100 billion. The minister said the cabinet has also asked the National Accountability Bureau to expedite process of investigation in order to bring the culprits to justice.
Government has nothing to do with arrest: Fawad Chaudhry
The information minister said the cabinet also gave approval to appointment of Aun Abbas as new MD Pakistan Baitul Maal. A new chairman of Privatisation Commission has also been approved, he added.
Chaudhry said an amendment has been approved in Section 35 of PPRA rules to expedite the process of buying urea for upcoming wheat crop. He said the cabinet also accorded approval to constitute a committee headed by Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood that will look into the matters of K-Electric and Shanghai Electric.
The federal cabinet also gave approval to the salaries of employees of Pakistan Steel Mills for the month of August, said the minister.
Speaking to the media, Chaudhry said that the government is in favour of introducing a uniform educational system till grade 12. He also said that the law minister is working on civil reforms.
On the occassion, he reiterated that the government shall provide health cards to facilitate healthcare to the citizens.
He apprised the audience that tax reforms are underway. He further informed that the PM shall soon be visiting China and given Pak-China ties, greater inflow of investments is expected.
The information minister also informed the media on government’s decision on framework for housing schemes.
