RAWALPINDI, July 7: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will shortly be launching its own courier service, the airline’s general manager, Imran Gardezi, told this reporter on Monday.

Mr Gardezi said the national flag carrier would launch the service by the name of Speedex, most likely by the last week of this month.

Asked for reasons for entering the courier business, Mr Gardezi said the airline had to earn money and would like to exploit all possible profitable avenues.

“We’ve been working for other couriers and felt that why shouldn’t we have one of our own,” he added. The service would be initially launched from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

About the staffing arrangements, he said some of the staff would be hired on contract, while the remaining requirement would be met by getting personnel on deputation from the airline.