PIA sacks 74 more staff for fake degrees, malpractices

ISLAMABAD TO BE FIRST PAKISTAN CITY TO GET ELECTRIC TRANSPORT

Islamabad, Sept 2: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sacked 74 more employees for having fake degrees, engaging in drug smuggling and for poor performance, according to a media report. Of the 74 employees sacked by the national carrier last month, 27 were dismissed for fake degrees, 31 for unauthorised measures, six for not following rules, four for damaging property, one for involvement in drug trafficking and three for stealing government records, PIA officials told the Express Tribune newspaper.

Apart from these, four employees were demoted, and 11 others were penalised for various disciplinary issues.

Pakistan Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, on Wednesday vowed to make Islamabad Pakistan’s first city where transport will be fully electric.

Speaking at a news conference here, Fawad Chaudhry said that federal government will import 120 electric buses this year and local assembling of battery powered buses will start next year.

“Electric buses will operate in Pakistan this year as the government is all set to import 120 buses,” he said and added that domestic manufacturing of these buses will start in three year time.

The minister said the government was focusing on the electric vehicles as it will bring revolution in the transport sector.

He said high technology farms will be developed to promote the production of unconventional crops.

Commenting over the industrial and medical use of hemp, he said that government has identified Peshawar, Jhelum and Chakwal as sites for the cultivation of hemp.