Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik has been appointed as the new chairman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by the federal government.

While talking to the media after a meeting of the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, the Information Minister Fawad Chauhdry said, “PIA is already under a heavy debt of Rs406 billion.”

The information minister said that the new chairman has been directed to immediately fix the airline's economic woes as the national flag carrier is facing a further monthly loss of Rs2 billion.

In addition, he said Aoun Abbas has been appointed as chairman of Baitul Maal.