KARACHI: Worried over non-payment of out-station allowance for several months, pilots of the Pakistan International Airlines have warned that it will be difficult for them to continue operating overseas flights if they do not receive the dues.

The President of the Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (PALPA), Amir Hashmi, said a pilot operating an overseas flight was paid around $100 a day during his stay in a foreign country to enable him to buy food and meet other expenses.

He said the airline arranged the pilots stay in hotels some of which provided them only breakfast and they had to pay for other meals.

Citing financial constraints, he said, the PIA had stopped paying the allowance since March and the pilots were spending their own money during their overseas stay.

“A majority of the pilots have told the PALPA that it is becoming difficult for them to continue to do so.”

In reply to a question, he said that about 350 pilots operated overseas flights and each of them received about $700 a month.

Published in Dawn, October 1st , 2014