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Bernd Hildenbrand

Interior ministry allows PIA German CEO to travel abroad, removes his name from ECL

KARACHI: Interior Ministry has struck off the name of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bernd Hildenbrand from the Exit Control List (ECL), allowing him to fly abroad.

The statement from the ministry said that the national air carrier’s CEO will depart for Istanbul on May 30 through Turkish Airline from where he would leave for German city Frankfurt.

Earlier, his name was added on the ECL by restricting him to travel abroad for charges of corruption.

Hildenbrand, a German national, was under investigation on charges of corruption. He was accused of acquiring a plane from Sri Lankan Airlines on exorbitant charges than the prevailing market rates.

It is worth mentioning here that the Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar, in March had announced the inclusion of national air carrier’s CEO name on ECL for acquiring a plane from Sri Lankan Airlines at $8,000 per hour while stating that another airline had acquired the same type of plane at $4,000 per hour.

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.