The director general of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told a Senate panel on Thursday that all pilots of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) wanted to leave the national carrier.
Explaining the reason for this to the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation, CAA DG Khaqan Murtaza said around 35% tax was deducted from the salaries of the pilots.
He added that, in addition to that, there was a tax imposed on the flying hours of pilots too. “Most of the time, when you hear about flight cancellations, the reason for this is the shortage of pilots,” he continued.
Senator Hidayatullah, the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation, presided over the meeting at Parliament House.
A panellist named Mohsin Aziz questioned whether the PIA would ever become profitable throughout their lives.
Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat, the CEO of PIA, retorted that the national carrier was operating profitably.
