PIA rejects criticism

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday rejected the reports, criticising the airline for disposing old aircraft.
PIA spokesman Haneef Rana, in a press statement, clarified that the airline had tendered some of its old aircraft, including a Boeing-747, three Boeing-737 and three A-310 aircraft, which had completed operational flying life.
“A tender notice announcing the disposal was released in national newspapers some time ago, inviting vendors in trade,” said Rana. “The vendors inspected the obsolete aircraft parked at Karachi airport followed by submission of sealed bids.”
“A number of vendors responded to the advertisement and were permitted to inspect the aircraft,” he added. “The entire bidding process was done with complete transparency. All aircraft equipment including engines, instruments and seats etc. were removed from the aircraft by PIA before the inspection process.
Even fuel and oil was also removed from these aircraft leaving only a minimal quantity to keep the mechanical parts lubricated.”
The PIA spokesman emphasised that none of the aircraft that were tendered are in flying condition.
He said since all the aircraft in PIA inventory are civilian in nature there is no question of any of them having sophisticated missile tracking equipment since such equipment is only fitted on military aircraft.