PM expresses resolve to make PIA world's leading airline

APP Published June 29, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Sunday visited the Islamabad International Airport to view newly inducted A320 aircraft into fleet of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) after a period of almost ten years.

On the occasion, the Prime Minster offered his all out support for making PIA as one of the leading airlines of the world.

He said that he would like to see more Pakistanis travelling in the national flag carrier which should be the preferred choice of passengers.

He also emphasised on providing best services to passengers and expressed his best wishes for the success of PIA.

Special Assistant to the PM on Aviation Shujaat Azeem, Managing Director PIA Muhammad Junaid Yunus and Director Flight Operations PIA Captain Qasim Hayat accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit, said a press release.

Sharing his views the PM said “It's pleasing to see the new aircraft being inducted in PIA fleet and prayed that with the present initiatives being taken, PIA will soon be revived to its past glory”.

The Prime Minster had approved the inclusion of 14 new aircrafts into the PIA fleet.

The Special Assistant to the PM on Aviation briefed the Prime Minister about the initiatives being taken.

He told that the PIA was also in the process of inducting 14 aircraft in its fleet including narrow body, wide body and turbo- prop aircraft.

The PIA had placed order for acquiring three A320 aircraft from GECAS out of which one aircraft has been received while the remaining two would be delivered in July and September.

The remaining aircrafts would be inducted in the near future.

The Airbus A320 has a capacity of 180 seats.

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Sunil

Jun 29, 2014 07:13pm

It will be one of the most hardest task for PM Nawaz Sharif to make PIA a leading airline, as many airline industries are in doldrums, such as Alitalia, Quantas, Requires lot of maintenance, airport taxing cost.

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Asad

Jun 29, 2014 07:22pm

Well I am sure if the political environment is calm the nation's economy will revive....Also the government should increase security for the airports.....

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Hussain

Jun 29, 2014 07:24pm

PIA took their flights away from leeds airport in the UK So what good is this plane for the pakistani who live abroad!!!!

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Jun 29, 2014 07:30pm

Look who is talking :-)

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Jun 29, 2014 07:36pm

Company cannot be profitable with so many employees. Just getting new fleets is not enough. PIA need to reduce their manpower.

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N H RANA

Jun 29, 2014 07:55pm

It is encourging to know that initiative has been taken to improve PIA and bring back the glorious days.

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AdHawk

Jun 29, 2014 08:08pm

PIA thrives on monopoly. Once all foreign carriers terminate their service to Pakistan, PIA will at last regain free reign of the skies. 'Lajawab loag', indeed.

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Faysal Syed

Jun 29, 2014 08:12pm

Unfortunately, 'PIA' has not learned example from 'TG' Turkish Airline having a reputation and fantastic network across the world. Apparently, on the one hand PIA wants to maintain its monopoly all against Foreign Airlines being operated in Pakistan but on the other hand, they have not 're-structured'themselves in order to compete with the rest of the airlines globally.

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Zaf

Jun 29, 2014 08:13pm

Good work Nawaz Sharif!!

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Khalid

Jun 29, 2014 08:18pm

The best thing you can do for the airline is to close it down completely and let local private airlines to com eup. PIA is one of the most dangerous airlines in the world not only because the pilots or engineers are incompetent, it is mainly because PIA has been cutting corners in everything. Only around a year or so ago, during an international flight I was told "sorry, sir the coffee has finished". What a disgraceful airline PIA is. It is bringing nothing but shame to the whole nation.

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Malik Ajmal Khan

Jun 29, 2014 08:41pm

Just a remider to our readers that these are used airplanes and the very first one that PIA has received is almost 10 years old and was bought from China Airlines. New airplanes does not mean that airplanes are new. Again, congratulations on getting discarded aircraft.

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Najma

Jun 29, 2014 08:42pm

Inducting new equipment does not make any airline better. Fix the system by selecting competent and honest people and it should start from the top.

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Parvez

Jun 29, 2014 08:42pm

More loot and plunder.

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Anarchist

Jun 29, 2014 08:45pm

PM must understand that turning a beleaguered enterprise into a world-class organization requires inculcating a culture of hard-work, honesty and high level of professionalism. Appointments should be based on merit and track record and he should stop appointing cronies like Shujaat Azeem. Kindly, stop treating Pakistan as your private business empire.

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daniel shiger

Jun 29, 2014 08:56pm

First clean the Mess created in Pakistan that is making life miserable with your country's nationality in the outside world. Who will travel with PIA if our planes are target of terrorists. Why dont you ban all kinds of arms in Pakistan?

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Sajjad

Jun 29, 2014 09:40pm

hmmm, so instead of controlling over staffing which is approx 750 employees per Aircraft, PIA will buy more planes to make it 500 employees per plane. And who's money is used for buying these planes. I will have no objections if some foreign airline is paying for it to eventually do a buyout of PIA but, I will have serious objections (which does not matter) if this is taxpayers money. Please do us a favour. Stop spending on toys and fix your wall, roof, kitchen etc. I know that I dont make much sense here.

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muzammil ullah khan

Jun 29, 2014 09:58pm

When do you intend buying it Mr PM ?

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Zohaib

Jun 29, 2014 09:58pm

Agreed. PIA is one of the finest airlines of Asia. It can easily be restored to its former glory.

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Zafar Abbas

Jun 29, 2014 10:06pm

with incompetent people you cant make it the best. Hire the best talent in the. Adviser to PM on aviation was a private pilot. A driver cant be the CEO of a transport company, His only qualification is is a personal friend. They are just after making money for their pockets. Let PM and hos advisers fly PIA as its free for them. I would not pay a damn to an airline like this. It will sink further as you keep hiring and buying JUNK of the fields.

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Dr. Khalid Butt

Jun 29, 2014 10:06pm

I heard that PIA is being sold before Dec 2014. Why spend more? Sell the company. No one can make any profit out of it. PM himself AND finance minister Dar have said in the past that many govt. owned companies including PIA PSM shall be privatized before Dec. why this U turn? Please sell all govt. owned companies because it is not the job of the govt. to manage any business. We have seen what ZAB did by nationalizing everything. We lost everything by that act of stupidity of ZAB and his Dr. Mubashir Hussain.

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Imran Khalid Virk

Jun 29, 2014 10:11pm

Is PIA not on the list of entities which have been approved for privatization? This needs to be clarified by the Govt.

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mansoor

Jun 29, 2014 10:11pm

Not to forget that PIA is being handed over to Nawaz's crony Shujaat Azeem.

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Dr. Khalid Butt

Jun 29, 2014 10:11pm

Why everyone is so interested in PIA, it can NEVER make any profit. Why doesn't the government give it free to the employees of PIA free, with a condition that they shall earn and divid the earnings amongst themselves. In less than three months they would dump it.

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Chaigram

Jun 29, 2014 10:15pm

This must be a joke? What a clownish statement........

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Ayesha

Jun 29, 2014 10:23pm

First make the airports Taliban free, than think about the air crafts.

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Jun 29, 2014 11:09pm

Buy new or used plane and giving them to untrained/uneducated people who were hired due to connections, will not make PIA dependable or safe. First give the operation of PIA to some major airline for two years contract, and then take the operation back.

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Ghulam Yusuf

Jun 29, 2014 11:41pm

PIA may buy as many used and new aircraft as it desires. Nothing will change. After all the it is management, the staff in the aircraft and administration which makes the difference. Unless PIA does not get rid of extra employees (mostly enrolled on political bases PIA will not earn profit. Can't they learn lessons from Qatar and Emirate. They should send their staff for training to these air companies.

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Andrew

Jun 29, 2014 11:50pm

I have used PIA regularly over the last years. Never mind trying to be the world's leading airline, from my observations just try for the following: flights on time, polite and helpful cabin crew, entertainment systems that work in EVERY seat, first aid kits on board, staff that are first aid trained on each flight and working smoke alarms in toilets.

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I. Ahmed

Jun 29, 2014 11:57pm

This is like Railway dept. buying run down engines during this government. No where in the world, PM goes to the ceremony to buy discarded planes. All this discarded engines and planes are contributing to the business interest of Sharif's outside Pakistan.

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Rashid Ishaq

Jun 29, 2014 11:58pm

please remove politics from PIA and Civil aviation; last time I visited Islamabad Airport, many of their groups was creating mess there by fixing up their tents there and putting up banners with some stupid slogans; rarely it is seen on airports

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NASAH (USA)

Jun 30, 2014 12:09am

"PM expresses resolve to make PIA world's leading airline" -- that can be diverted to any airport anywhere in the world.

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Dr Qureshi

Jun 30, 2014 12:13am

First get rid of Zardari officials from PIA! Hire everyone on merit!

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khalid

Jun 30, 2014 12:17am

PIA and Gulf Air are two airlines that were once very successful but mis management has sucked them to the end of their life cycles and the best easy solution is to shut them down. No amount of investment and turn around strategy is going to help them. Forget that PIA is pride of Pakistan as it is more of a disgrace to the country.

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Ganga Din

Jun 30, 2014 12:24am

It is a leading Air Line in corruption, incompetency, rudeness and theft.

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Falak Sher

Jun 30, 2014 12:51am

Emirates is better than PIA

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Aamir

Jun 30, 2014 01:45am

PIA's manpower cost is amongst the lowest in the industry. Cutting down the manpower is not a solution in a country that cannot offer alternate jobs. Better operational and marketing strategy is the key. Hire competent managers and leaders (you will find many from within PIA) on merit. Putting your close aides and confidants at key positions will lead you nowhere.

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Aamir

Jun 30, 2014 01:48am

@Khalid I disagree with you when you say PIA's pilots and engineers are incompetent. I am witness to the fact that major share of jobs in Middle Eastern airlines are still being taken up by PIA pilots and engineers. All you need are good leaders.

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Aamir

Jun 30, 2014 01:51am

@Andrew couldn't agree more. Excellent analysis.

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Khalid

Jun 30, 2014 02:06am

PIA "totally in-effecient airline" Over staffed under serviced aircraft, I have given up flying with PIA as I have seen "first hand condition of aircraft" These planes honestly "fly on a wing and prayer only" To fly on PIA you have to "believe in the power of prayer" Over the years standards have not "dropped" but "run down" PIA should be "Privatised" and new aircraft inducted as well as staff!

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Faisal

Jun 30, 2014 02:07am

@Khalid Don't talk nonsense Khalid. PIA cabin crew service might be awful and yes the planes are not clean etc but we certainly have some of the best pilots around.

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FIZA

Jun 30, 2014 02:22am

The only way PIA can become a top airline once again is if so called political hacks stop thinking PIA is their personal air fleet. Arrival and departures should be punctual and have a flawless on time record. No longer should flights be delayed on take off or landing simply because some so called VIP arrived late for the scheduled departure. All passengers should be paying for their tickets, and government officials regardless of their seniority - only can avail govt. fare discounts of 10-15 percent, not more. Politicians should also not be given freebies - most are extremely wealthy and should pay their own way.

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zaku

Jun 30, 2014 02:23am

@Khalid you are wrong. PIA has one of the best pilots in the world. Its the ground staff and the management that is corrupt an incompetent.

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Masood Khan

Jun 30, 2014 02:36am

I would think twice before flying on PIA even if given a free ticket.

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zia

Jun 30, 2014 02:49am

PM, you have to make hard choices in terms of over staffing and political hiring. Ban unions, at least for few years.

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Shaan

Jun 30, 2014 02:50am

Really !! I can't believe that the Prime Minister is wasting his time in such frivolous activity to go and see induction of an Airbus in PIA's fleet. I see Nawaz Sharif very prominent in inaugurations and inductions. Rarely, does he show a bold front when country is attacked by terrorists. Terrorists will continue to get bolder and bolder as long as the rulers are afraid of condemning them publicly. Pakistanis would like to see the terrorists caught and publicly charged and justice be served. Our airports and aircrafts are under attack. I recall after Karachi's airport's attack, it took days for Nawaz Sharif to call a meeting. Please solve terrorism issue first. Leave inaugurations and inductions for local governors and city Mayor's etc. Shaan (San Diego, CA)

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syed wasim haider

Jun 30, 2014 03:22am

PIA need people like Nur Khan and Asghar Khan to make it at least a good airline if not the best.

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Syed

Jun 30, 2014 03:36am

Joke of the day ?

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Moby

Jun 30, 2014 04:09am

Our Amir Ul Momineen is a man of many resolves.

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Merchant

Jun 30, 2014 04:24am

Mian Saheb, as an honest head of state of Pakistan can you please confirm or catagorically deny your business interest in Turkish Airlines. Thank you

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khan

Jun 30, 2014 04:32am

I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.

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Norozkahn

Jun 30, 2014 05:27am

Remember it , Nawaz Sharif likes P.I.A , he is putting PIA on the auction block and he wants to see new planes in the fleet. He will soon own PIA, perhaps he will buy it for pennies using one of his relative's name.

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Mohammad Kumbo

Jun 30, 2014 05:36am

Does reviving PIA to past glory mean replacing long bearded stewards with smart and beautiful female air hostess. Also how about making PIA safer and cleaner instead of world class.

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ASAD

Jun 30, 2014 05:46am

@Malik Ajmal Khan is their any alternative you suggest?ok it is from china,must be running for better that we have.we don't have money to purchase new plane.For time being used one is OK.

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amina shah

Jun 30, 2014 05:56am

@GM What about job security of poor people, is it their fault ? You want them on road begging to survive.

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zafar

Jun 30, 2014 06:10am

Can you make up your mind? One day you are privatizing it - the next trying to make it a world's leading airline. Doing a reality check about PIA should be the first job to getting this dinosaur off the back of Pakistan.

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Saeed

Jun 30, 2014 08:11am

How? By taking more loans and buying more air planes from France when he visits there?

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khanm

Jun 30, 2014 10:34am

PM expresses resolve to make PIA world's leading airline... Folks it is just and expression... seeing his track record it is not going to be achieved. it is just talk we all are use to it...

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M.Saeed

Jun 30, 2014 08:54pm

.There is no dearth of Deengay-maar Khans in this land of the pure! Not long ago a good-for-nothing politician and former railways minister had boasted of running "Bullet Trains" in Pakistan. Today he is finding no place even to stage a Dharna!

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Ras

Jul 01, 2014 03:48am

Even though I would prefer to travel in PIA but PIA doesn't give you any choice, from London to Islamabad just before eid PIA ticket is

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Mustafa

Jul 01, 2014 10:47am

Sell it to Hamza Shahbaz.

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Rehan

Jul 01, 2014 03:44pm

Please take note that this aircraft is already 10 years old followed by another one of same Age, Hope our PM is aware of it ?

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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali

Jul 02, 2014 06:49pm

Who is the purchasing agent of the aircrafts. I want to know. Talk is cheap and coming out a PM is even cheaper. Without reducing the work force PIA can not make money. Operating costs should always be less than revenue generated and PIA could never understand this simple rule.

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Joy bangla

Jul 02, 2014 11:18pm

@Hussain forget pia fly biman with brand new 787 dream liner. Joy bangla.

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karmat

Jul 03, 2014 12:20am

Very funny yes PIA will be world's best after apocalypse.

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Syed Mohammad Husain

Jul 04, 2014 09:55am

It is good to know that the Prime Minister retains his interest in the welfare of PIA. Media reports citing refusal of foreign companies to wet lease Airbus A320 aircraft following the recent firing incident in Peshawar may not be detrimental to the interests of the airline. PIA staff would require an arrangement where the existing professionals are utilized rather than money paid to some foreign elements. You have the expertise so get a dry lease on the supplements required and stop trying to blame the airline for a situation which is the government's responsibility, security prevalence for businesses to flourish or lets say, continue to exist.

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Syed

Jul 05, 2014 12:47pm

Please stop saying that Pakistab has the best pilots / enggs in the world. We as people are delusional and nothing in Pakistan is superior except corruption and immorality.

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