KARACHI - Pakistan International Airline (PIA) Managing Director Muhammad Junaid Yonus and CEO –National Testing Services Dr Haroon Rashid signed an agreement for assessment of the PIA employees’ professional standards for bringing in merit and transparency in the employment.
After signing of agreement all appointments and promotions in PIA will be done on merit on passing of test conducted by National Testing Service (NTS).
The NTS tests of PIA employees would be computer-based and a computer laboratory would be established by NTS at the Head Office. The test would be for professional competence, Psychometric test of the employees based on their job description. For purposes of merit and transparency these online test would be conducted on real time basis and the result would be announced immediately on finishing the test by each employee. Initially the test would check proficiency in job related knowledge, English language, general knowledge and intelligence quotient (IQ).  Initially about 2500 employees of all categories would be put to test by NTS. MD while sharing his views on the occasion said that PIA’s financial position is improving and airline is now operating in profit. He said that in November 2012 PIA earned operating profit of Rs 738 million. Previous loans will be restructured and a comprehensive plan has been submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
After taking charge of the national flag carrier various initiatives have been taken for the betterment of airline. With the induction of A320 aircraft in PIA fleet the airline will be saving around 54pc in fuel costs. He said that each flight is being monitored and in December 2012 the airline managed to save 110 tons of fuel. With the induction of aircraft in PIA fleet the flight schedule of the airline will also improve, he added.
Other initiatives taken include forensic audit, a committee formed for the review of airline affairs and termination from service of employees with fake educational degrees.
 The signing of the agreement with National Testing Service is another step forward in implementing merit and transparency in employment and promotions in PIA.