Parliamentarians to get money instead of air tickets
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ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee for Parliamentary Affairs in National Assembly has approved an amendment draft in Parliament’s rules and procedures code which will enable the reimbursement of air tickets to parliamentarians.
Earlier, lawmakers had approached the NA Speaker and asked for the amendment. The speaker then drafted a proposal allowing to monetise the local air travel for parliamentarians after which the MPs will now be given an amount equivalent to 24 intercity air tickets every year.
Lawmakers will not be bound to travel through Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) anymore, thus depriving the national carrier of Rs350 million per annum.
It has been decided to give money to members of Parliament for which a proposal for amendments in legal procedures has been prepared by the government, a copy of which is available with DawnNews.
The proposal suggests that parliamentarians should be given money equivalent to 24 business class air tickets. In addition to this, the lawmakers will also be allowed to travel in airlines other than the national carrier.
According to the proposed amendment, the parliamentarians will be reimbursed the air fare even if they don’t travel by air, which amounts to about Rs1.8 million. They will also be allowed to travel by any medium of transportation they prefer.
The lawmakers who are residents of the federal capital or nearby areas, will be given Rs0.3million in terms of transportation allowance, the proposal suggests.
The national carrier received Rs350 million per annum in this regard. However, after the approval of this amendment this funding to PIA will be slashed.
The approved amendment proposal will now be presented before the NA Speaker, who will then ask the law ministry to make the amendment and notify the NA Standing Committee.
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On DawnNews
Comments (91) Closed
Feb 27, 2015 08:56pm
Does that mean Flights can leave on time now?
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Feb 27, 2015 08:58pm
Another step towards privatizing national assets.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:04pm
This is madness. Ordinary people are suffering and they are making amendments for themselves.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:04pm
Is there any connection to that fake degree of PIA pilot? May be the govt. think that parliamentarians life is more important than the citizens??
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Feb 27, 2015 09:05pm
Geo Democracy. Are they so poor that they cannot bear the travelling expenses.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:05pm
This is another way legalize corruption.
Good government suppose to push country ' s national airline for government business as this is done in uk, usa and others civilize countries.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:06pm
No it means more corruption.. More rishwat in name of commission, now i hope dawn publishes this comment , so far its no offense just truth , perhaps very known truth.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:09pm
This can only happen in Pakistan. Poor country like Pakistan spending so much money on useless and corrupt politicians. Pakistan can not afford this democracy in which only rich corrupt people can play democracy and then get more rich and utilise resources of the country in this way. Poor children die of disease poverty and famine. Sorry we do not want this democracy. Kick these people put
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Feb 27, 2015 09:12pm
Pretty sure Shahid Khaqan Abbasi presented the motion :)
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Feb 27, 2015 09:13pm
If any company was run like Pakistan government, it will go bancrupt within months. Why should they be given money for 24 tickets?. Should it not be on the basis of how many times someone travels?. More corrupt practices are always welcome by this government.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:14pm
"Earlier, lawmakers had approached the NA Speaker and asked for the amendment." Of course, any way to milk more money from a poor nation and these thugs get together and work on amendments. No such interest in plethora of problems the nation faces daily.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:30pm
PIA flights to be in time now. But this country is milked so much by the rulers and civil service gets the most bad publicity. Why can't the ruling elite also liberate the civil servants from compulsory use of PIA? Against the benefits, this has demerits as well, the biggest is the protectionism and eventual deterioration of PIA. This also leads to corruption as the travel agents get business class and foreign carriers for the blue eyed civil servants and the others are told to get excursion class PIA tickets. Former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar had a principle that she would always use Business Class and she would never use PIA. She had a special employee employed as Director in the Foreign Office who would clear all travelling bills from the Finance Ministry.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:31pm
Good... Now they will make use of their private jets.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:35pm
You can travel by road but claim airfare.
Does that mean, now parliamentarians from Islamabad can take cab but claim airfare.
Rob the poor country with two hands!what a country
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Feb 27, 2015 09:37pm
i doubt it will do any good to anyone except the MP's, oh and it will rip off tax payers in unimaginable ways; yeah you thinking what i thinking.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:39pm
@Abdur Mushtaq sadly tax payers would bleed more, don't you think.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:42pm
It is a joke. Why do they get business class if they are cash awards. Should get train ticket fare and it should be considered an income and be taxed appropriately
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Feb 27, 2015 09:42pm
"MPs will now be given an amount equivalent to 24 intercity air tickets every year"
Yeh "intercity" air travel is available in Pakistan.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:43pm
Simple rule of thumb, the parliamentarians should be compensated with the lowest available fare on the day of travel.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:43pm
No more flight delays
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Feb 27, 2015 09:45pm
They are there for THEMSELVES only.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:49pm
ONLY IN PAKISTAN this is done milk the money instead of reducing the cost. Oh I forgot, Price follows Kingdom of Arabia is the PM. So why save money.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:51pm
this is crime against Pakistan
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Feb 27, 2015 09:52pm
Why should they get the money whether they travel or not. It should only be given up to a max of "whatever" after they submit original ticket with the a real receipt. They need to behave like a third world contry. We are dying because these idiots want to inflate the "national pride" and honour.
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Feb 27, 2015 09:57pm
instead of fixing their own habits and boarding the flight on time, they would rather give business to the competitor airlines. Now just see how all these parliamentarians will be on time because we know airlines like Emirates, Qatar, British Airways will not wait on them.
Secondly, how disappointing is that when you as a parliamentarian of Pakistan, traveling via foreign airlines. Certain things carry a lot of symbolic values but I guess our politicians are too stupid to realize that.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:00pm
These politicians make policies to benefit themselves and their businesses at the cost of Pakistan and its institutions. That is way every thing is going down in Pakistan but their businesses are flourishing. This can also help the parliamentarians pocketing the money without travelling and also benefit Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's private airline to earn more revenue at the cost of PIA.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:01pm
"According to the proposed amendment, the parliamentarians will be reimbursed the air fare even if they don’t travel by air, which amounts to about Rs1.8 million"
Aren't these scum bag politicians ashamed of what they are doing to this bankrupt country?
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Feb 27, 2015 10:08pm
One can't hope for any positive work from the class of criminals who engage in organized robbery. The PIA wings are being clipped making it unable to fly. Also the parliamentarians will collect handsome amount yearly based on First/ Business class fare and travel in economy class. Degrading.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:09pm
What makes me wonder is, why these politicians were given free air travels?
For a job well done on destroying every single institution in Pakistan or because they have robbed Pakistan to the point that it might become failed state very soon. There is literally no middle class left in Pakistan, inflation is unbelievable and no hope for educated young generation. And we will continue to reward these corrupt people... WOW.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:11pm
Observing that travelling on PIA has become unreliable and dangerous, the parliamentarians have cleverly decided to travel on other airlines. According to the proposed amendment, the parliamentarians will be reimbursed the airfare even if they don't travel by air. What a smart idea. That would be another scoop in the in the usual loot of fund from the national exchequer.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:16pm
Take away the money from the Corrupt Cronies of an Organization ( P.I.A ) and give the cash to the tax evading ( which is a Criminal act as such !) , super rich members of so called Paliament and allow them to do what ever they want to do with it ( even if they travel by a bicyle to the parliament from the paid lodges of the Paliament or their personal houses within the beautiful IslamAbad ! , minimum they will get .3 Millions as travel allowance ! ) . That is a Good Example of a so called Good Governess by all means , link it with the other good thing the N-League did , to start giving the developement funds ( in Millions to each member of the Paliament ) and Who would not like to pay money to eneter the Houses of parliament as selected/so called elected members . Mind you , the Electicity problem ( load shedding ) which N-Leagues big mouths promised to be fixed within 6 months ( during the elelction ) , We are told by the honrable PM ( last week ) , it would be fixed after 3 years !!!! Good governace
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Feb 27, 2015 10:32pm
Why business class tickets. Being people's representatives let them sit with the common people. Economy class is far enough
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Feb 27, 2015 10:32pm
How efficient when it comes to individual gain contrary to a collective benefit that take ages to get approval ... what a shame !
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Feb 27, 2015 10:33pm
These fellows should travel by bus or train in the true spirit of the Pakistani poor man that they claim to represent.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:36pm
Even they do not trust PIA but expect public to keep faith in the national carrier. These parliamentarians are over pampered babies.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:37pm
Parliamentarians should be made to ride rickshaws and donkeys! Thats what they deserve after all!
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Feb 27, 2015 10:45pm
This is going to be another few thousand going into their pockets ,this is greed.
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Feb 27, 2015 10:47pm
Just another great con..
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Feb 27, 2015 10:55pm
VULTURES
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Feb 27, 2015 11:07pm
Is it necessary to give them air ticket? They are our members of parliament and they should travel by their own vehicles as they are also getting travelling allowances. VIP protocol should be only for Designated personnel like PM, CM , etc. Federal Ministers should also travel by road. PIA needs more finance and government should invest on it.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:16pm
PIA is back in the news again !! got why don't they run this airline properly after all it represents Pakistani flag on it tail globally.National flag carrier is something most nations pride themselves on, and here we are ashamed or mad most of the time.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:23pm
Wow!! This is legalized corruption at its best people!!!
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Feb 27, 2015 11:41pm
"24 business class air tickets"!? What have they done to deserve the business class travel. Look at our country which is heading backward day by day because of these corrupt leaders. They should be given Pakistan Railway tickets and nothing more.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:48pm
Great news; how caring are our politicians. Now lets privatize PIA please.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:49pm
@Imad Qureshi
No Sir; you are too optimistic.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:50pm
@Asif
Not a madness Sir. They invest for such benefits only.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:51pm
@SaJJad
Yes sir; they have spent all during election process to make double plus.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:52pm
This is another preemptive planning before they privatize PIA. Perhaps wan tot make sure that law-makers have free airfare even after privatization of PIA.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:53pm
@asim
All parties united here, robbing national exchequer is their most favourite hobby.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:56pm
Just another way to put more money I their pockets.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:57pm
@jk
How well defined; thanks Sir.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:57pm
Sure. Now that these politicians have run this pride of Pakistan in to the ground, it is no longer worthy of their presence any more.
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Feb 27, 2015 11:59pm
We need someone like president Ayub Khan, and true presidential system.
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Feb 28, 2015 12:05am
They will take the Money for 24 flights and still fly FREE on PIA - this government is a joke
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Feb 28, 2015 12:09am
They'll travel in first class Emirates Itehad and Saudi Airlines and we will pay for their ticket.
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Feb 28, 2015 12:22am
Maal e Muft. Dil e Be rehem !!! Due to these legislators our country sucks !!!!!! They don't make law they make money!
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Feb 28, 2015 12:35am
This is excellent news for private airlines.
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Feb 28, 2015 12:51am
Why 24 flat-number of intercity ticket amount in cash every year ? Why not the normal rule of reimbursement of expenses? Is it safe to give them money first and beg them to give proof of actual travel afterwards for audit ?
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Feb 28, 2015 12:52am
Does it mean, take CASH, than 'may' be travel?
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Feb 28, 2015 12:57am
Now PIA is going towards either complete shutdown or expect plane crashes as no MNA/MPA will ever die in crash.
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Feb 28, 2015 01:17am
1.8 million rupees(18 lacs) for each MP per annum means Rs.150,000 per month which is much more than any civil or army officer's salary.i think parliamentarians are now legalising corruption in this already poverty stricken country where people don't have enough to even feed themselves once a day...what can be more disastrous ?
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Feb 28, 2015 01:29am
Very sad today. We are officially finding ways to do corruption.
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Feb 28, 2015 01:34am
What a shame, instead of fixing the problem the lawmakers are tying to escape from it.
Malaysian airline is in worst situation but their leaders are still traveling on their national carrier.
This issue should be brought up at national level and Pakistanis should know who are those leaders who signed this bill.
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Feb 28, 2015 01:44am
no words jst no words
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Feb 28, 2015 01:50am
Please mercy on poor Pakistani's, this is another money making scheme of these crooks they will take the money and free ticket, cargo as well!
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Feb 28, 2015 02:00am
@asim I ran khan wipe them out if he protests and announce Dharnas. I bet my life. If he does not it will prove all his claims of truthfulness and Honesty are false and hypo racy.
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Feb 28, 2015 02:01am
Cash for Aish.
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Feb 28, 2015 02:33am
"the parliamentarians will be reimbursed the air fare even if they don’t travel by air"
I don't understand, people who live nearby will get 0.3 million, far away 1.8 million. Why so??? How much you travel regardless of where you are from, should be criteria to reimburse, not just give money, whether they travel or not. They should be be given train fare, if travel by train and so on.
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Feb 28, 2015 02:39am
They made sure that even if they don't use all the 24 tickets they still collect that money. So now they will travel cheap (by trains, buses or cars) and still bag that money. They would love the travel by car because cars are paid for by the government as well. Income of an extra 1.8 million a year.
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Feb 28, 2015 02:41am
If these so-called "elected leaders" of the hapless and helpless people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will not travel on its national airline PIA then who else will?
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Feb 28, 2015 02:55am
What a government. Do they any thing right or just good for or too busy in taking care of themselves. Good way of legalizing the corruption When, when are we going to wakeup. not in this generation. So sad that after creation of this so called muslim country 67 years ago we are in the bottom of almost every thing..What a achievement.
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Feb 28, 2015 03:07am
Appalling a poor country run by corrupts. Why they have to be paid for traveling by air X 24/yr. business class. This is kick back by corrupts for themselves.
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Feb 28, 2015 03:18am
I bet no one objected to that. What do these people do that we have to pay them anything. People are dying of hunger and lack of health and education and we have to pay for their travel. What a shame!!!!!!
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Feb 28, 2015 04:20am
@Ashraf Choudhry
Sir, Imran Khan is one of them too. He has already misused government facilities including KPK government owned helicopter on many occasions.
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Feb 28, 2015 04:29am
@JUSTICE No, that is not correct. Government is not supposed to dole out money or forced passengers to PIA. The so called national carrier. Why not to support other airlines those are working harder and more efficiently? and providing better service at cheaper price?
And eventually save money for the nation and help positive competition. Good decision.
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Feb 28, 2015 04:31am
@Janu Not-German Does not matter who presented motion, it is right thing to do.
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Feb 28, 2015 04:37am
he parliamentarians will be reimbursed the air fare even if they don’t travel by air...
wow out of pocket expense even if they dont spend it! thats only in Pakistan!
what a democracy where people pass laws for own
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Feb 28, 2015 04:48am
More corruption at the expense of citizens. Parliamentarians filling their pockets. Shame!
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Feb 28, 2015 05:07am
Unbelievable . They get money for 24 full priced Business Class tickets, whether they travel or they don't. This should be based on travel and reimbursement, not just giving everyone money for full priced Business Class tickets. They should fly Economy Class, as well, as most of the people do.
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Feb 28, 2015 06:24am
What have they done in last 50 years to deserve it. Pakistan without a corrupt government would be better off without government.
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Feb 28, 2015 06:28am
They should pay with their own money for traveling, and reimbursed when they bring a proof of receipt of payment
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Feb 28, 2015 07:03am
@JUSTICE there is no national airline in USA and UK. Air line are run by private enterprises.
Don't just jump to make a comment, it should make sense also.
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Feb 28, 2015 07:51am
Why business class? Air fare ? They should travel by train
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Feb 28, 2015 07:55am
@Singularity Here even the income tax of law makers of Panjab is paid from Govt treasury they pretend that they are serving the people where as they loot the people as much as they can and all parties are unaniumous on this count, this is our fate a common man.
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Feb 28, 2015 08:37am
@Faruk chowhdry which train >>>??
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Feb 28, 2015 08:47am
I find it interesting that 24 inter-city business class tickets are valued at Rs 1.8 million, making it Rs 75,000 per ticket for a flight with a maximum duration of 2 hours. I recently flew Lufthansa Business Class from Amsterdam to Moscow, a flight of almost 6 hours, for the equivalent of Rs 40,000.
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Feb 28, 2015 10:41am
Time to get rid of the whole rotten and useless lot, (many with fake degrees, dubious appointments by favors), and start afresh.
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Feb 28, 2015 01:08pm
@Faruk chowhdry do we have any railway infrastructure at all ?
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Feb 28, 2015 01:16pm
Perks unlimited....
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Feb 28, 2015 01:37pm
We are a unique nation in the world who legislate to promote corruption, bribe, nepotism and feudalism. While legislating our illiterate, ignorant and short-visioned legislators always look after their own interest. All the feudal lords, industrialist and capitalists are sitting in assemblies to look after their own interest and I think its not their fault. Actually we are the people who are just sitting crossed hands and waiting some pity from them. There is a saying that when you make others to hold your beard, you can't ask them to pull it slowly.
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Feb 28, 2015 01:59pm
1. Members should travel by NATIONAL CARRIER (Atleast as a support to PIA) otherwise PIA Will not have enough passengers which leads to losses & privatization.
2. Members should have ECONOMY CLASS ticket instead of BUSINESS CLASS. It will reduce the cost of travelling for govt. expenditures & increase the standard of serving in ECONOMY CLASS for NON-VIPs.
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