KARACHI: The government on Tuesday appointed Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar as Chairman Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). A B-777 pilot, Aijaz Haroon has been made the new managing director of the national flag carrier.

Mukhtar has replaced Secretary Defence Kamran Rasool who was heading the financially-strapped airline since Zaffar A Khan resigned earlier this year. Haroon is replacing Aslam R Khan.

This is the third time in just over a year that top leadership of the airline has been changed. Financial losses of the airline have exceeded Rs 13 billion a year amid continuous surge in international oil prices.

Zaffar Khan had resigned, saying he believed that only someone with complete backing of the incumbent government could lead the airline. Mukhtar is an old stalwart of the ruling Pakistan People's Party whereas Haroon is a serving pilot of the airline and is believed to be close to the PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.