ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali has asked the management of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to continue efforts to further improve quality of its services and make the national carrier more profitable.

The prime minister made these assertions at a briefing by the PIA management at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, here on Saturday.

He said the primary focus of the management should remain on bringing about qualitative improvement in all areas within the existing resources of the airlines.

Passenger safety and comfort be accorded the highest priority, he added.

Mr Jamali particularly emphasized the need to provide better quality service to the passengers on domestic and international routes.

“The organization will have to work really hard in order to stay in competition,” he added.

The PIA, he remarked, had trained so many airlines in the region, it must try to come out of its current spell to stay ahead of these carriers.

FARES: He said there would be no increase in fares in future without the approval of the government. Previously, the Board of Directors approved changes in fares.

He assured there would be no political interference in the affairs of the PIA. The management, therefore, must pursue result-oriented policies, he added.

It was also decided in the meeting to resume the weekly Quetta-Sharjah-Dubai flight closed down in 2001. It was also decided to examine the possibility of starting a Lahore-Quetta-Mashad flight.—APP

Opinion

Respite needed

Respite needed

All one can fear is a familiar accounting exercise that aims to extract a few more rupees from a narrow, weary economic base.

Editorial

Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...
JAAC ban
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

JAAC ban

Though the JAAC’s demands are open to scrutiny, banning any political organisation — as long as it remains committed to peaceful activism — is undemocratic.
GB election
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

GB election

It is important that whichever party ultimately forms the government puts the needs of the people of GB above everything else.
ODI win
07 Jun, 2026

ODI win

AT last, the Pakistan cricket team had something to celebrate: a One-day International series victory against...