PIA privatisation: Unions say booking offices to remain closed till Feb 2

E-Paper | July 29, 2026

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) unions on Monday announced all offices of the national carrier will remain closed from tomorrow (Tuesday) till February 2 in protest against the planned privatisation of the airline.

The employee unions also threatened to halt flight operations from February 2 if the government does not give in to their demands, foremost amongst which is scrapping of the plan to privatise the national airline.

Captain Sohail Baloch, convener of the PIA employees committee, told reporters that a four-point agenda had been presented to the government by the body. Failure on part of the government to fulfil these demands, he said, will result in suspension of flight operations.

Their demands include:

Government shall immediately take back the bill passed on January 21 converting the national flag carrier into a public limited company.
PIA's employees be provided a chance to reform the airline. If the employees fail to do so, the government will have the freedom to do whatever it finds suitable.
Privatisation, in any form, whether it is in form of a strategic
partner or selling of 36 per cent or 1 per cent of the organisation's shares, is not acceptable to the employees.
Government shall immediately review the aviation policy and form a
committee for this purpose comprising members from PIA employees' JAC along with PIA experts Khursheed Anwar, Kamran Hasan and Salahuddin.

On the other hand, the PIA management has requested union leaders to not close down offices as it may cause inconvenience to passengers across the country, a spokesman for the national carrier said in a statement.

He said the airline's management had requested all employees to join hands and support the management in the revival of the national flag carrier.

Privatisation

The National Assembly on January 21 witnessed the passage of six bills, including one to convert the national flag carrier into a public limited company.

Under the bill, Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) will be converted into a public limited company as Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL).

PIACL will get all the assets, liabilities, duties and obligations of PIAC. Similarly, PIACL would be entitled to the benefit of all notifications, licences, permissions, sanctions, authorisations, concessions, decrees, international air service authorisations, agreements, orders and benefits issued or granted in favour of PIAC.

Also Read: The big debate: to sell or not to sell PIA?

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R.S. Menon

Jan 25, 2016 09:14pm

No need to surrender before the Unions. The primary objective of the Unions is that they want hefty salary without fullfilling their duties and responsibilities. NS be bold and think practically. R.S. Menon, Bangalore

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Khalid

Jan 25, 2016 09:15pm

The best solution would be to fire all PIA staff. They have had it too good for too long. Terrible record of puntuality, terrible maintenance record, nepotism, non-existent customer service and terrible food. What else could have gone wrong with this joke of an airline?. Anyone who loves their families would never send their loved ones anywhere on this airline. I have not travelled (internationally) on this airline for over 25 years and neither do I have any plans to.

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Adnan shah

Jan 25, 2016 09:37pm

The Union of Pakistan destroyed Charsada sugar and paper mills steal mill PIA the list goes on saw let them cry till their death

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Mark

Jan 25, 2016 09:39pm

If they close booking office or halt flight operation then stop there February salaries .

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Fani

Jan 25, 2016 09:44pm

PIA & PSM have become White Elephants...must be privatized at any cost...!!!

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Cyrus

Jan 25, 2016 09:47pm

In the United States the president has the power to keep the airline flying or put the workers in jail. The reason is they are threatening national security. These people can be fired because there are qualified international pilots looking for jobs. If the pilots are locked up for contempt of court and replaced the other PIA workers will cave in. Other qualified ground crews could be hired as well. Young women all over Pakistan would jump at the chance to be stewardesses. Sadly, a private firm will have to replace these dedicated patriotic Pakistanis.

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Cyrus

Jan 25, 2016 09:50pm

@Khalid ..... The Honduran airline had a terrible record of punctuality. Now it doesn't exist. Mexicana Airlines operates their flights.

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Fani

Jan 25, 2016 09:53pm

Some facts about PIA, PSM, & Wapda: i: Poorest performance ii: Surplus Employees...majority on political ground iii: Burden on National Kitty. iv: Severe mismanagement. Must be Privatized sooner than later...!!!

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Haroon

Jan 25, 2016 09:56pm

Nobody in the unions want to privatize PIA. The reason is that PIA provides the best jobs in the world. You do nothing and still you get upto 6 figure salaries. And then you also get free trips for you and your family around the world. Who do not want a dream job like that and that too from the Tax payer's money?.

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Aleem

Jan 25, 2016 09:57pm

Privatize or shut it down! Privatization will allow for performance based hiring/firing. This free loading has to stop. All of us Pakistanis are paying for the free loading of many of the PIA employees through our taxes yet most of us don't rely on unions to protect us when we under perform. So why do the employees of PIA get this special treatment?

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nedo

Jan 25, 2016 09:58pm

pure blackmailing tactics . Globally all business's run on profits and grow.This is going on for decades :-)

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Ahmed

Jan 25, 2016 10:00pm

Fire all who are interfering in this process of privatization. They had years of time to improve themselves but have brought the airline to debt ridden non functional organization. Privatization is the only option.

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Dr. Ali Ahmed

Jan 25, 2016 10:01pm

I think the country has suffered enough losses in maintaining the status quo with PIA. It is high time that the private sector steps in and converts this into a profit-making entity. The government should not be black-mailed by the unions. Why are we even using these booking offices in the first place? This is the 21st century for heaven's sake. Upgrade the PIA website so that people can book their flights online or outsource the bookings to the websites like Kayak etc. If the union members don't want to work, their pays should be withheld for a month and they should subsequently be sent in their way. May be a blessing in disguise considering the political appointments that have been made over the years which are a major source of downfall of our national flag carrier.

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Atif Khan

Jan 25, 2016 10:01pm

They should all be fired. Hand the airline over to PAF or army and let them run it until its privatized.

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rich

Jan 25, 2016 10:01pm

govt should not give in to blackmail just sack them or threaten to close the airline, they will come online support from india down with unions, who are destroying govt industries and companies all over the world

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neutral

Jan 25, 2016 10:04pm

If the Government succumbs to the black-mailing of the Union, it will complicate the issue further. If half a dozen MDs could not improve, the Union will ? They are trying to gain time. As mentioned in another of an article, profit earning Airline like Emirates has 220 employees per plane against 700 of PIA and mostly 'parchi employees'- unprofessional and busy in smuggling and corruption. Even Mr Arif Abbasi, the last profit earning MD of PIA admits that.

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Jan 25, 2016 10:06pm

More awkward than serious situation has cropped up which is to be dealt at two fronts (a) PM Nawaz Sharif must not, repeat, must not surrender before PIA union and instead should ask Gen Raheel to deploy troops at all PIA offices including hangers airports and run ways so that business is run as usual and flights are not disturbed. (b) Union demands be evaluated judiciously and any reasonable demand be met. The union leaders must be told very categorically that disturbance or disruption of any sort will not be tolerated but if they do not listen and resort to protest and or strike then not only the leaders but also their supporters be arrested forthwith. PIA which is running into losses for many years simply cannot sustain the loss so inflicted due to union strike. Government writ and will must be enforced under all circumstances. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi.x.diplomat@hotmail.com

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Naxalite

Jan 25, 2016 10:10pm

Yeah they want salaries be it given by bearing losses.

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Ghalib Kamal

Jan 25, 2016 10:12pm

PIA exists for customers, not the employees. This fact appears to have been lost to every PIA employee be it the stewards, booking staff, checking staff or any other staff that I have come across

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Shiraz

Jan 25, 2016 10:14pm

In any case, the protesting union leaders and members are going to go upon the privatization of PIA. What's the big deal if they are threatning to halt operations? As a matter of fact, they have already identified themselves for the potential buyers, as the ones to get rid of in the first go. This airline and its prestige is much more important then the egos of the union leaders and members. They are in fact the ones who are inflicting damage to it. If PIA wishes to rise, all political appointees should be purged.

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m sing

Jan 25, 2016 10:16pm

if it is possible than it should be done.....then it be the time of air india...

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Abdullah

Jan 25, 2016 10:39pm

Should be privatised no matter what... Jobs of existed employees should be secured as promised by the government.. R these dumps expending the government to take the burden of a failing airline with public money

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nedo

Jan 25, 2016 10:47pm

should we get ready to see the same kind of carnage KESC staff did some years ago to their own office HQ?

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Saj

Jan 25, 2016 10:48pm

PIA has to dissolve to start fresh. Sack every inefficient worker whether plane or ground based.

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naji

Jan 25, 2016 10:49pm

Govt. to take action in yesterday's date. Don't wait for further destruction of National Flag Airline by these unionist groups. Similar Action, Privatize Pakistan Steel immediately.

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AKB

Jan 25, 2016 10:50pm

Please do not create troubles for the passengers and allow foreign Airlines to operate from Pakistan in case it is unmanageable. It is a shameful situation that we can,t even manage very simple things.

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Ali Dada

Jan 25, 2016 10:58pm

Let PIA die. No company means no employees or union. Send up another airline and acquire PIA assets and staff as needed. Similar to what Swiss did for Swissair.

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Jason

Jan 25, 2016 11:03pm

So all the free loaders for the last 30 years have not had a chance to sit down and discuss their own job extermination??...

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Qamar

Jan 25, 2016 11:03pm

To revive PIA without privatizing the following will have to be done: 1- Arrest all union office bearers. They are responsible for protecting incompetent and corrupt employees. 2- Remove all political appointees from top to bottom 3- Appoint a senior management purely on merit. 4- introduce strict accountability and performance evaluation system, whereby anyone not performing his/her duties efficiently will be fired immediately. The above are the policies of all successful airlines. PIA will certainly do much better if the above is implemented.

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Khalid ( UK)

Jan 25, 2016 11:13pm

Get "rid" of the unions, and "privatise" the airlines, offer the public to "buy shares" Make PIA "leaner,cut costs and wastage" introduce newer fleet" and finally " re-train all employees in "customer care"

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mohammed Sattar

Jan 25, 2016 11:14pm

The gravey train is about to end. PIA is one of the worst airlines in the world. The staff are very arrogant and most of them are corrupt. Sack them all and employ new staff. There are millions of talented people in Pakistan who would give their right arm for the chance to work for the national carrier.

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Qamar

Jan 25, 2016 11:22pm

I find the following demand by the union very amusing: "PIA's employees be provided a chance to reform the airline" Every employee of PIA gets the chance for the above every single day, but they willingly don't do anything about it!!!

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Imad Qureshi

Jan 25, 2016 11:38pm

I am no fan of Nawaz Sharif but PIA and steel mill both should be privatized. Tax payers cannot continue to fund the salaries of employees of these companies. Those who are not employed and still are opposed to privatization, then my question to them is "are you willing to pay out of your pocket the salaries of PIA and Steel Mill Employees"? Because that's exactly what's happening when these people get salaries even their company is not making any profit.

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Shahzad Kazi

Jan 25, 2016 11:40pm

In theory privatization of PIA should lead to a better environment, better compensation and a more efficient company. Why is the staff protesting against this happening?

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Faith

Jan 25, 2016 11:40pm

Dont let them sell PIA its our country asset...

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Saleem

Jan 25, 2016 11:42pm

Why are the unions against a 26% privatization? The govt will still be a majority stake holder. I suppose the private investigators will demand a higher work ethic. scary! If the unions continue on this path, the govt should shut down PIA and see how the emloyees like being unemployedm.

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Asgher Ali

Jan 25, 2016 11:54pm

In our national interest PIA should be privatized with more efficient and more honest and more hospitable staff running it. It is time that my fellow Pakistanis are spared the poor performance by the PIA personnel.

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Khan- Pakistani

Jan 26, 2016 12:35am

Whosoever will be in power will always try to privatize PIA because PIA is a white elephant but all opposition will make all hue and cry because it is a sensitive issue to general public !

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Syed Rizvi

Jan 26, 2016 12:49am

This is an economic decision and should be based on economic dictates; it can not be left to the selfish interests of the Union now in defiance of the Government,Senate and the Parliament. The Union should learn to be , a competitive and efficient work force which could enable PIA to compete domestically and internationally as an Airline on merit not on state subsidies.

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ZTech

Jan 26, 2016 12:58am

Fire all of them, sent the remaining to Municipal corporation. Wasting billions and doing nothing for nation.

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Sam

Jan 26, 2016 01:00am

Incompetent people can't do their jobs when given free hand. Don't need these guys. Fire them all ASAP.

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Abdul Jabbar

Jan 26, 2016 01:13am

I agree with Mr. khalid, even during ppp regime efforts were made to privatise PIA. The union leaders closed operations at that time . The staff draw fat salaries without bringing any improvement. The govt should stand firm and privatise PIA.

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U.K. Expat

Jan 26, 2016 01:17am

PIA should be privatised immediately The employees are all political. Let the employees be given 49% shares and the rest to the high bidder. I will ask Richard Branson's team to take over and see the PIA succeed like virgin airline. Just a thought !

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jan 26, 2016 01:24am

What a serious joke? A company like PIA which owes more money to its creditors than the gross value of its total assets can't remain in operation any where else except the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

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Zafar

Jan 26, 2016 01:26am

It is very clear here. It is PIA employees versus the rest of the country. The country has been paying for the follies of PIA for far too long, and these employees want that arrangement to continue. PIA will never turn around, and it is high time that its books be taken off the paychecks of all Pakistanis!

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Jan 26, 2016 01:29am

Fire those who are in non-compliance with the orders of the management, ban the unions -do not give in please even if the PIA has to be shut down. We can no longer give in to black mail

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Arslan

Jan 26, 2016 01:40am

Firstly, hire the right skilled and required staff in the new Ltd company. Once that staff is hired and on payroll, clear all PIA facilities and airports overnight with help of Army and move new staff in. Then shut down PIAC and let the fights begin in the courts. And pass laws making it a criminal offence for critical position holders, such as air traffic controllers, to go on strike.

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just_someone

Jan 26, 2016 01:48am

Most of these people were hired by PIA through bribing someone influential. I feel no remorse for these people,sorry. Go ahead with privatization without any stopping....

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ak4pk

Jan 26, 2016 01:50am

The union must recognise that PIA belongs to the Nation and not to the union. The Nation through its elected chamber is the final arbitrator of the fate of PIA. The bill for privatisation is now a law and the union has to abide by that law. Strikes as proposed by the union can land its leaders/members behind bars. The union must thread with extreme caution.

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Divergence

Jan 26, 2016 02:02am

Let them go on a long strike and lose their jobs forever. That's what corrupt and incompetent mafia deserves.

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Pakistani

Jan 26, 2016 02:04am

All staff can go on medical leave till 2nd February.

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MKB

Jan 26, 2016 02:22am

@Dr. Ali Ahmed I work in USA and maintain major airlines reservation systems including PIA. Southwest airlines board over 120,000,000 (120 million) passenger per year and they don't have a single booking office. All PIA needs a user friendly website for booking. Get rid of all these incompetent workers.

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Khanra

Jan 26, 2016 02:30am

Hold passengers hostage... See why this gang needs to be privatized?

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Imad Qureshi

Jan 26, 2016 03:06am

@Khan- Pakistani not to general public. General public could care less. The employees although a small number when compared to the population of Pakistan are united because they know in a private setup, the incompetent ones, which is majority of them will not survive.

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kam

Jan 26, 2016 03:53am

If the unions go on strike then the Govt should simply set up a new private airline, close down PIA transfer all PIA planes to it, hire new staff and sell it's shares on the stock exchange. Problem solved.

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desiinpardes

Jan 26, 2016 04:09am

PIA has become corrupt and stuck in it's glorious past. Take a look at their website and kiddish booking system. It has not changed since at least last 10 or more years. If the corrupt employees want to reform it now, why they didn't reform it when they had all the time until now?

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desiinpardes

Jan 26, 2016 04:14am

Guys, what's up with Whit Elephant? Why are you dragging poor white elephant here?

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Farhan

Jan 26, 2016 05:33am

Arrest them all and hire some honest non-political hardworking people. These hooligans striking will not make any difference given that they don't do their jobs anyway.

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Jan 26, 2016 05:46am

Please privatize PIA. Run it like a business not a bus service

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HONEY

Jan 26, 2016 05:51am

If poor performance is the standard to privatize the institutes then why not privatize the government because of poor performance, come to the root causes problems in your country so all institutes working in organize manner. As your country's government performance is not very good so obviously institutes not working well. Come to the realistic approach its all my request to nation and people who comments on this news.

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Jei Shah

Jan 26, 2016 06:09am

We all should also ask PPP to stop instigating Unions for their political interests. It is vitiating economic environment and in fact not doing the Unions and its membership any favour.

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Naseem Altaf

Jan 26, 2016 06:32am

I, a Tax Payer since 1969, hate to pay & subsidise the incapable ,greedy , hopeless who are in the majority of PIA employees any further. The government should not bow to any of their demands. The salaries and perks of all the employees, without exception , should be reduced by 35% at least. Otherwise, they can resign and go. Unfortunately they can not do anything productive and cannot earn their food. A retrenchment of unrequired employees be done retaining only those who have proven merit and who will be an asset for PIA. The employee per flight ratio should be similar to other successful airlines. For the retrenched employees, a fixed period retraining package be designed ,for them to learn some productive trade , with carefully considered criteria, tests ,and modalities. The cost of such a package may be born by their gratuity/provident funds and partly by the state (Tax Payers like me and you). The State of Pakistan must not become bankrupt for incapable or ghost employees.

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Sailay

Jan 26, 2016 06:51am

Mafia in action. Haven't you looted the airline enough ?

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VOICE OF SANITY

Jan 26, 2016 03:26pm

PIA should not be privatized, till today there is no private Airline of Pakistan which can compete with PIA in terms of services, planes etc. They are only looking for quick money and always find short cuts like increasing fares when Pilots of PIA were on strike, cancelling flights abruptly, only flying at lucrative routes, on the other hand PIA had to fly at that routes which are strategically important but does not give monitory benefits. look at recent example of Yemen, when PIA successfully airlift many Pakistanis stranded their on government directive. I bet if it was any other private Airline of Pakistan then it would be asking government for lots of money and still could not make it.

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