Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chairman Azam Saigol resigned from his post on Monday due to personal reasons, the national carrier's spokesman confirmed.

The development comes as PIA is under pressure and scrutiny following the crash of PK-661 and speculation that the national carrier does not follow international safety standards and procedures.

Earlier today, the PIA spokesman said in a statement that the chairman was working on a pro bono basis (without salary and perks).

The statement added that the role of the chairman is to head the board since a shift of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation to PIACL under the Companies Ordinance of 1984.

The government had appointed the noted industrialist and a member of the board of directors of Pakistan International Airlines as chairman of the national flag carrier in May 2016.

Saigol was appointed after the previous chairman, Nasser Jaffer, resigned amid the controversy resulting from the countrywide strike by the airlines’ employees over the government’s reported privatisation plans.

The Oxford educated Saigol is a well known industrialist of the country, and brought with him vast experience in handling big industrial concerns and corporations.

He had remained on PIA’s board of directors since 2013.