The Supreme Court of Pakistan temporarily stopped Pakistan International Airline (PIA) from going ahead with its rebranding plans. PIA is currently in the middle of rebranding process where it is painting its planes using a Markhor head as brand identity.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar inquired from the CEO Musharraf Rasool Cyan about the cost of repainting the planes to which the CEO quoted it will cost Rs2.7 million per plane. However, Justice Nisar observed that the cost for each plane would be Rs3.4 million a figure he got from media reports where he was corrected that it’s not the case.
But interestingly the chief justice was more bothered about the delay to his flight and asked the CEO of PIA questions not about the airline issues or problems but why his flight was late. Here is how it went
CJP: Do you know what time I reach Islamabad yesterday?
CEO PIA: You reached at 1.15
CJP: Tell me why my flight was delayed?
CEO PIA: Due to some issues the flight was delayed.
It is important to note that flight was delayed due to severe thunderstorm in Islamabad and unscheduled maintenance issue with the aircraft.
During court proceedings, the chief justice attacked the PIA CEO personally by asking Cyan what his niece was doing in the national carrier. However, the CEO denied and said I am ready to go under oath and deny. Then CJP brought out another point and reminded him that there is a writ against him. CJP also asked PIA CEO what is his qualification and then observed what an economist has to do in PIA.
It is important to mention that PIA told CJP that they have applied decals on one of their planes to which the Chief Justice replied. Keep it on just one until you submit a report. So the matter will be pending until this is done. This will further increase the costs as it will disrupt PIA schedule and timeline it has set for the repaint.
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