**PIA chairman resigns citing poor health
**
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chairman Rao Qamar Suleman has resigned citing poor health, Express News reported on Tuesday. PIA Deputy Managing Director Captain Junaid Younus has been appointed as the acting Managing Director.
The former Pakistan Air Force chief, Suleman, was appointed as the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of PIA in May 2012. He had previously been appointed as PIA Managing Director.
Talking to The Express Tribune, PIA spokesperson Sultan Hasan confirmed news about Suleman’s resignation, adding the the Ministry of Defense has also informed PIA’s management about it.
Deputy Managing Director PIA Captain Junaid Younus will be acting MD following the resignation of Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Suleman.
“Consequent upon resignation of Air Chief Marshal (Retired) Rao Qamar Suleman, the competent authority has directed that Deputy Managing Director PIA Captain Junaid Younus will be the acting managing director to look after the affairs of the corporation,” said a spokesman of PIA on Tuesday.
The national flag carrier has been undergoing losses and malfunctions, while when Suleman was inducted as the chairman, he was reported to be bringing “reforms” to the airline.
Almost a third of PIA flights have suffered delays this year due to technical and administrative reasons, dealing a severe blow to the national flag carrier’s business, including facing a Supreme Court inquiry regarding alleged corruption in purchasing of expensive aircrafts for the airline.
Looks like he reached the conclusion in 4 months that PIA cannot be put on track and decided to leave the organization. Or maybe he would be facing political pressures and interference for which he tendered his resignation.
