Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has taken steps to address its engineering department’s manpower shortage by deciding to hire aircraft technicians on a daily wage basis. More than 100 candidates, who have completed apprenticeships with PIA, are currently undergoing interviews for these contract-based positions. This recruitment effort is expected to help the airline cope with operational demands.
Despite the move to hire technicians, no decision has been made regarding the recruitment of aircraft engineers, whose last fresh batch was recruited in 2016. This comes as PIA continues to struggle with staff shortages, particularly after 65 technicians and 45 engineers left the airline to join domestic and international competitors. A PIA spokesperson confirmed that the interviews for daily wage technicians have already begun, with the Society of Aircraft Engineers also verifying the new hiring process.
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In addition to recruitment efforts, Pakistan’s aviation sector is under review by a visiting British delegation. The delegation, which includes members from the UK Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority, is in Pakistan to assess aviation safety standards. The review is critical for the potential resumption of flight operations between Pakistan and the UK.
Meanwhile, PIA faced scrutiny in the Senate over a controversial advertisement promoting the launch of Paris flights, which sparked public ridicule. The government has since launched an investigation into the matter following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directive.
