LAHORE, Oct 15: The PIA board of directors and the unions have urged the government to appoint a professional and competent person head of the national airlines that could steer it out of financial crisis.

The PIA managing director/chairman office fell vacant last month following the resignation of Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman (retired) on health grounds. The acting charge of the managing director has been given to Capt Junaid Younus.

“The PIA cannot afford any non-professional as its head. We will recommend the government to appoint a professional and competent person a new head of the national airlines,” PIA board member Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood said.

Talking to Dawn on Monday, he said Rao Qamar was doing well and after him the PIA needed a person like him who could properly handle its affairs and take it out of the financial problems it was facing at present.

He said a foreigner having a vast experience in aviation could also be an option for the slot in case no suitable candidate was available. Mr Mahmood earlier had also raised the issue of hiring a foreigner.

Another member, Omar Sharif Bokhari, said President Zardari would have to take keen interest in the matters of the PIA and appoint a thoroughly professional person its head.

The Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan president, Shaukat Jamshad said the PIA could not afford an ‘incompetent’ head.

“It will be good if the new managing director has experience in aviation,” he said.