22 April 2005	Friday	12 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 21: The laxity of maintenance procedures led to a fire in the engine of PIA’s flight 789 at Manchester airport in the recent past as the aircraft. Responding to a question by MNA Imtiaz Warraich, the defence ministry informed the National Assembly on Thursday that Boeing company attributed the incident of fire to excessive grease in the break assembly and presence of residual cleaning solvents on the heat shield.

The ministry sought time to collect details in response to a question by MNA Dr Attaur Rehman about the number of planes whose engines had been changed during the first two months of the current year and the life period of the engines along with the details of the amount incurred on replacement of engines.

Senior Citizens: In response to another question by MNA Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi, the ministry informed the lower house that senior citizens were being given 20 per cent discount on all domestic flights. The discount would also be applicable to economy and economy plus classes, except in the night coaches.

Leave Rules: In reply to a question by MNA Asadullah Bhutto if all types of leave of PIA employees had been reduced, the ministry informed the house that the national carrier changed leave rules to retrieve the corporation from the brink of an administrative and financial collapse.

The ministry said had the government not intervened to stabilize PIAC and its affairs, the organization would have collapsed.

— Staff Reporter