KARACHI, July 8: Senator Taj Haider, information secretary of the Pakistan People's Party, criticizing the proposed privatization of PIA's transport department, warned that the move would lead to the destruction of the national organization.

He was talking to a delegation of the People's Labour Bureau here on Thursday. "If such steps are not checked, they would result in the collapse of national organizations," he said, adding that the entire national economy would then ultimately become dependent on multinational companies.

He pointed out that on the one hand, PIA had purchased many new vehicles for its staff, and on the other, advertisements were being publicized to award the contract of transport service to some other party.

He feared that many PIA employees might be rendered jobless in the process. He also criticized the PIA management for contemplating sale of its huge fleet of good vehicles at throw-away prices to some selected or hand-picked parties and, at the same time, spending huge amounts to get vehicles on contract.

He assured the delegation, comprising Shaikh Majeed, Lateef Mughal, Manzoor Badayuni, Abdullah Angaria, Abid Chhipa and others, that he would raise the issue in the Senate.