ISLAMABAD, May 6: The government on Tuesday appointed Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar as chairman of Pakistan International Airlines and Capt Ijaz Haroon as its managing director.

Mr Mukhtar replaces Defence Secretary Kamran Rasool and Capt Haroon succeeds Aslam R. Khan.

The outgoing PIA executives were appointed by the caretaker government on February 28 and the appointments were criticised by the Pakistan People’s Party.

Capt Haroon, one of the senior most Boeing 777 pilots, has been associated with the airline for 30 years. This is the first time in the airline’s history that a pilot has been appointed as its managing director.

Capt Haroon has previously held various management positions, including director airport services and general manager central control.