27
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken up the matter of issuance of vacation notice to national flag carrier airline Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by Indian authorities in New Delhi, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit told Dawn via phone on Monday.
“Yes, we have taken up the matter with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and are expecting a meeting in this regard shortly," the high commissioner said.
A report published on The Hindu on Sunday said that the airline had been issued a notice to “dispose of” its offices in New Delhi as the purchase was declared “unauthorized” by the authorities.
Take a look: PIA New Delhi office receives closure notice from Indian authorities
He said that the airline had purchased an office in the heart of New Delhi’s commercial area Connaught Place thereby fulfilling all requirements in 2005 but has now been asked to vacate the offices by Directorate of Enforcement in the Indian government, on the pretext that formalities were not fulfilled properly.
The high commissioner further said that PIA operates a small office in New Delhi since 1976 with two senior employees posted there and that their visas are also nearing expiry.
"The visa extension matter of these employees has also been taken up with the MEA," said Basit.
No imminent threat to PIA flights to New Delhi: spokesman
Meanwhile, PIA has said there was no imminent threat to its flight operations to New Delhi.
"PIA is taking all necessary measures to safeguard and protect its assets and there is no imminent threat to close PIA’s flight operations to New Delhi as highlighted in sections of the press,” the airlines spokesman said.
The spokesman stated that PIA has been maintaining its offices and business in Delhi for more than three decades.
“In 2005 PIA acquired immoveable property in New Delhi for the purpose of running its offices, for which PIA had completed all necessary formalities for the acquisition of these properties,” the spokesman maintained.
He said after a period of over nine years the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), through a letter dated 24 November 2014, had objected that PIA purchased these properties in New Delhi without its permission.
