Islamabad, Sep 2 (IANS): Pakistan International Airlines has sacked 74 more employees due to fake degrees, poor performance, drug smuggling and theft of government record, it was reported on Wednesday.

According to the PIA administration, with the fresh layoffs, the total number of employees dismissed from jobs in the last three months has reached 177, The Express Tribune reported.

According to figures released by the PIA Human Resource Department, the 74 employees were fired for fake education certificates, negligence of duty, damage to property, bribery, smuggling and drug use.

A PIA spokesperson said that four employees were demoted while 11 others were also given various disciplinary punishments.

"At the same time, 17 employees were given certificates of appreciation for high performance and five were also given cash prizes."

The latest development comes after Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan's June 24 disclosure that licences of 262 of 850 Pakistani pilots were "suspicious".