PIA flight operations across country wind down as employees killed in Karachi clash

As news of the deaths of two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees spread on Tuesday evening, the national flag carrier's flight operations across the country began shutting down in solidarity with the protesters, officials said.

While flight operations remained on schedule Tuesday morning despite the PIA union's call for a complete strike against privatisation of the airline, the situation changed drastically after employees protesting outside the Karachi Airport clashed with law enforcement personnel, resulting in the deaths of two PIA employees.

PIA flight operations were suspended around 4pm at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport, Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Peshawar's Bacha Khan International Airport and the Quetta Airport, officials confirmed. The status of PIA flights at Karachi was already uncertain due to the violent protests.

PIA Lahore spokesman Athar Awan said flight operations had been halted after two PIA employees were killed in clashes with forces. PIA's employees later gathered outside the Lahore Airport to register their protest, DawnNews reported.

Employees also gathered outside the Islamabad Airport Tuesday afternoon, vowing to continue their protest till their demands are accepted by the government. Police and Rangers personnel have been deployed in the area.

A Civil Aviation Authority official in Quetta told Dawn.com that flights to and from Quetta had been delayed indefinitely following the protest outside Karachi Airport.

Earlier today, Civil Aviation officials told Dawn.com that flight operations at JIA, Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport and Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport were expected to continue as scheduled.

But as PIA employees in Karachi clashed with law enforcement personnel, the status of a number of flights at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport remains unclear.

Passengers are advised to call the airport ahead of time to confirm the status of their flights.

PIA reservation counters at the Peshawar Airport were shut down at 11am, an airport official told Dawn.com

Protests by PIA employees have also erupted in Multan and Peshawar in solidarity with the treatment meted out to their colleagues in Karachi.

Privatisation of PIA

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) is to be converted into a public limited company as Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL).

The government plans to split the ailing national flag carrier PIA into two companies and sell the control of its core business to a global airline, but the opposition to the sell-off has been intense.

But representatives of PIA employees announced on Sunday their opposition to the government's privatisation plan, saying they would continue their strike and bring flight operations to a halt from Tuesday if their demands are not met.

Pakistan

Syed Ali Shah is DawnNews' Quetta bureau chief.

He tweets @alishahjourno

Imran Gabol is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over a decade of experience in journalism. He covers politics, climate change, human rights, education, and metropolitan affairs. He can be found on X at @gabolizm.

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mohammad iqbal

Feb 02, 2016 03:32pm

During the Benazir Rule ( yes proper word ) I met one guy at Karachi airport. He was asking me how is the PIA service. I asked him who he is? He showed me the emplyoment card of PIA where in it was mentioned that he is GM marketing. He hailed from Nawabshah with a masters degree. Today, I realised how PIA stooped down to becoming the dirtiest airline in this region. PPP just stuffed PIA with rougues and now they want to demonstrate for its non privatization. Govt must privatize PIA and bring back the glory of this airlines of Nur Khan " great people to fly with" and not " great jiyale to loot with "

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Sajjad

Feb 02, 2016 03:38pm

@mohammad iqbal - PIA should be privatized and All employees who were hired on political grounds must be fired. Now, your argument, do you mean a GM Marketing has to be from a "Big City" and should have a Phd Degree?

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Khan Lala

Feb 02, 2016 03:49pm

@Sajjad Please don't try to change the dimension. Mr. Iqbal just highlighted an example of political recruitment, not criticized the belonging of the employee to any city. For your information, due to political recruitment, there are 350 employee per PIA aeroplane. EX Chief Justice Chaudhary Iftikhar was right to say that the number of employees per plane is more than the passengers it may carry!!!

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Concerned

Feb 02, 2016 04:10pm

All those who are speaking in favour of PIA must know, that PIA is an absolute disgrace for Pakistanis when it lands on foreign airports especially when an old ATR lands in the middle of an airport which is nearly full with jets such as latest 787s and A380s. Its staff including pilots have been caught smuggling things in the past. It has no quality or quantity left. Why are we being emotional to save PIA? I am not ready to pay my tax money to an institute that absolutely plunders and loots on it. It might have been a great airline in the past but reality is that it is worst airline if you look at it today. Ask every person who lives in Gulf and frequently travels to Pakistan.

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Khurram Waqas

Feb 02, 2016 04:19pm

PIA should be privatized period no doubt about that. But first, it should be bailed out by the public money. Once debt is settled any ME group with govt. cronies keeping a private equity could buy it. It wouldn't be a white collar crime, if 26% of its share is bought by a private airline owner, who is already minting money in the energy sector. would it? It is practiced by super rich all around the world by bailing a sick entity by public money and keeping the private profits offshore.

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Azmeen

Feb 02, 2016 04:27pm

Govt must get rid of rogue elements in PIA & privatize it. PIA in its current way of working has been the cause of disgrace for the national flag.

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Sarmad

Feb 02, 2016 04:40pm

@Concerned ATR does not fly internationally, please use your brain before you start puking stuff like this. PIA was one of the best airlines, politicians ruined it and even right now Nawaz is ruining it. Do you even know how are they planning to sell PIA assets ? They are selling stuff to their own people for dime so that they can only resell it later for bigger profit.

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Simple man

Feb 02, 2016 04:46pm

What a Joke PIA ..these employees don't want privatization because it would mess up their hooka Paani. The national airlines is trashed due to mismanagement and being a Pakistani I can proudly say I don't travel with PIA.

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Khan Lala

Feb 02, 2016 05:07pm

@Sarmad ATR frequently flying to Muscat airport. Can you please visit at: http://www.wego.ae/en/schedules/tuk/mct/flight-schedules-from-turbat-to-muscat

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straight.fwdperson

Feb 02, 2016 05:17pm

@mohammad iqbal Very True I belong to Larkana. During Benzir bhutto govts only jiyaals were inducted from securty Gaurd to Engineer with C or D carrier record. I m witness of various events No merit and no post for poor. Just ponder for while huge no of dull and redundant staff in sui gas PIA and many more are gifts of ppp era 1989 to 1997.

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Yasser

Feb 02, 2016 05:33pm

I have no doubts in my mind today that PIA should at all cost be privatized , i am not willing to pay my money to people who have absolute no regards for others but there own hooka pani .

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Raza

Feb 02, 2016 05:33pm

This PIA has helped to start Emirates and many gulf airlines why we have reached this place because of political messing up inducting loads of people and appointing our favourate people at top slots and they don't work and perform nor they can be fired.We can spend billions on orange train but can't save PIA.They will sell it for peanuts to themselves with a front man then they will sell all the PIA property world over and then go went gone. The first thing which needs to be done is to get rid of excessive staff inducted on political backing second an evaluation to be done for remaining and only competent to remain rest to be let go. Offer shares to Pakistani businessman if they are so patriotic.

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Feb 02, 2016 05:36pm

The PIA unions are greatly responsible for this worst situation and running into losses. These union people have cancelled confirmed seats of passengers to embarked their fellows for free ride. The looses due to these strikes should be recovered from these corrupt unions and should be sent to jail for giving losses to the airline and inconvenience to the passengers.

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Rana Chakwal

Feb 02, 2016 05:38pm

It is the worst time ever to sell Mari Gas shares due to low oil and gas prices globally. Mari gas is also a profit generating company and I am against privatizing mari gas ..however Pia...steel mills...Kapco can be privatized. .but govt should handle this more prudently. .very unfortunate today regarding deaths of 2 Pia employees in karachi

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akram

Feb 02, 2016 05:42pm

the PIA employees seem to think that the airline should be run for their benefit rather than the benefit of the customers! It seems everyone wants it privatised the politicians and the public. I have met good airhosts, there are no doubt some good people. But like any institution owned by the state, it has been stuffed with safarishis. Fighting against privatisation is like trying to hold back time with your hands. Utterly pointless.

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M. Siddique

Feb 02, 2016 05:45pm

@mohammad iqbal, I am lost in your story. A person with a Master's degree from Nawab Shah; how does it make PIA bad? Do we need a person with PhD or that the person was from Sindh that is why you feel PIA is stuffed with PPP Jiyalas? Your thinking defies logic.

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Concerned

Feb 02, 2016 05:46pm

@Sarmad ATR flies to Muscat International regularly. So you better research before commenting. Secondly, you are right, it was the one of the best airlines. The important word in your statement is "was". @Raza, though i agree with most of your recovery strategy but there is a point of no return for every business. We keep injecting our tax payers money in a business that is corrupt to the core these days. Lets ask for a shut down. It can never improve, it has to be restructured and management has to change from the top. That is what this strike is all about.

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Khan- Pakistani

Feb 02, 2016 05:47pm

Great people to fly with PIA !

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Skeptic

Feb 02, 2016 05:48pm

It would be highly irresponsible of the government if it doesn't take concrete action to control the situation, gets rid of trouble-making free-loaders and protect the public interest and tax-payer's money. It is the ONLY Pakistani brand that is recognized around the world (or used to be). It would be a shame if the government gives into the blackmail, and fails to stem the losses further and put the PIAC in the hands of a competent management.

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azam kadeer

Feb 02, 2016 05:53pm

we need to look why PIA is down it is due to favoritism , extra staff, wrong Management, government never pay any thing to PIA when they travel if PM sb is traveling PM office must pay if have any state guest Federal must pay not PIA. seem like PIA is down to the earth so investors take PIA for nothing

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L. H. Zaidi

Feb 02, 2016 05:56pm

I think PIA can be improved by privation, but if it is done on the bases of honesty and keeping the interests of employees and nation in front. But all such thoughts are ok except for Pakistan.

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Syed Hussain Akbari

Feb 02, 2016 05:58pm

With all due sympathies to the those who lost their lives it is shameful that such protesting steps are taken by the Union members of PIA. When such rallies are taken out in the countries like India and Pakistan clashes with law enforcing agencies agencies are always likely to happen which may lead to casualties and injuries. Unfortunately soon such protests get the support of some political parties. Such supports are mainly for their interest and not in sympathy to the protesters. This aggrevates the situation. All know the present contaminated air in Pakistan due to terrorism in and outside the country. I fail to understand how can such protesters and politicians think of further spoiling the situation. On ther hand the Government should also move towards reconciliation although it may be hard. And for that the Government should sincerely first remove the dust of its table. Only then the words will speak their heart and make them strong.

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Javed Arshad

Feb 02, 2016 05:58pm

It's sad to hear killing of protesters at Karachi airport. I don't understand why would anybody be against privatization when the government has assured time and again that the not a single employee will lose job. Having an investment will bring PIA back to its glory and would add to the exchequer rather than leaching out on already crippling economy and coffer.

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Moha

Feb 02, 2016 06:08pm

@Raza If we can get peanuts for it, then we are doing well. This has been so badly managed that we would be lucky to get peanuts.

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Adeel

Feb 02, 2016 06:11pm

Once upon a time PIA mentor and trained Emirates , now look at the condition of our national airline ? not only PIA any other government asset you name it is just got politicise and destroyed. Isn't that enough for people to judge and see who is working for the institute in Pakistan and who is destroying ? Another reason behind destroying PIA was to sell it for cheaper rate and then buy it back on a higher, yes this is exactly they do PML-N and PPP both are equally responsible for what have happened to PIA

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Moha

Feb 02, 2016 06:12pm

@Javed Arshad Privatisation is impossible without people losing their jobs. It is stock full of incompetent people, who know they are worthless. Any competent management has to sack them, so of course they are against competent management.

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Kangaal

Feb 02, 2016 06:12pm

Do I stand any chance in buying PIA?

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shah

Feb 02, 2016 06:13pm

Incompetence and overstaffing is literally dragging this down. There are 2 counters for Immigration just to justify overstaffing. I travelled all through the world once Passport is stamped next is hand carry baggage scan but there is another line up for 2 persons checking passport casually again flipping 2 pages and that is it..same when entering Karachi Airport there is person checking ticket and passport most of the time unable to read flight booking, he ended up arguing that I have one way ticket then showed him RETURN work . It is total mess and so annoying

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Abdul

Feb 02, 2016 06:17pm

I work in a big airline in the world and we are 4 times bigger than PIA but 4 times fewer employees than PIA. These people are just burden on PIA. Hire fewer and smarter guys and turn around this company. Look at American carriers, they all came back from bankruptcy and now making tons of money.

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Feb 02, 2016 06:17pm

PM should in the 1st instance announce some monetary help for the two who are killed since they were Pakistanis and then he should ask at least those who operated flights today during 0700-0900 hours to come back so that the flights can be resumed. I will go a step forward by saying that message be given to the protesters asking them that anyone who wants to work should come three steps forward and they should be patted and put on job and I am pretty confident that these three steps will ease the situation and once PIA flights are back to normal then the protesters must not only be terminated but also FIR be lodged accordingly so that a clear message shoots out to the public in general that strike does not win. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait

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Truth

Feb 02, 2016 06:20pm

@mohammad iqbal - Regardless of who's Rule, this is the worst corporation in the whole world having too many free loaders e.g. in-laws of retired employee pays only $50 for ticket to USA.

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Guldar Ali Khan Wazir

Feb 02, 2016 06:32pm

For the sake of the country please withdraw decision of the suspension of flight operations. The country is already over head and ears in debt and this mess will further add to its financial constraints. please, please, please.

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Sami

Feb 02, 2016 06:37pm

@Concerned I think you have just described what people think of Pakistan in general, not just PIA! We were a great and progressive society in the 70's. Look at us today... That's what happens when you mix religion with governance... Sherani and Lal Masjid runs the show!

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Feb 02, 2016 06:38pm

@Concerned : Just to keep the record straight, the only foreign airport ATR flies to is Kabul, and I don't think there are any A-380's landing there.

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Imran ali

Feb 02, 2016 06:39pm

@Khan Lala ..recently more 1000 PML workers were inducted in PIA

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Ayesha

Feb 02, 2016 06:40pm

PIA should not be privitaized but declared bankrupt and a new airlines should emerge that should be privatized. By bankrupting PIA government can write of some bad debt and renegotiate terms and conditions with some of the aircraft it leases. It also helps to say bye bye to PIA biggest liability it's employee 300 employee to 1 aircraft ratio. These thugs were given jobs in PPP era that are now hijacking the airlines future . Best thing is to bankrupt n send everyone home. Renegotiate terms and privitaize .. Emirates have shown interest in the the heavy traffic routes PIA serves in past and not the airlines.

Recommend 0

Feb 02, 2016 06:45pm

@Concerned : Ok, I wasn't aware that Muscat is also one of the foreign destinations for ATR. Apologies. But I still think that this embarrassment is misplaced as that's more like a local link between two close destinations. All over the world, this kind of sectors are addressed with similar sized planes.

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Ayesha

Feb 02, 2016 06:48pm

@M. Siddique current PIA owns 47 aircrafts 30 of which are really operational ; serving heavy traffic routes. PIA has 15000 employees that means 300 employee to every aircraft ratio. PIA is the biggest airlines in the number of it's employees it staff and this was done in PPP era where every jeeala was given a job. This is the main reason why PIA sank and was ever profitable again. No airlines can survive with this given model. I doubt even emirates have 15000 employees.

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Feb 02, 2016 06:48pm

ABDUL! You said you are working with an airline which is 4 times bigger than PIA and making profit which is very heartening to know. Being a Pakistani, even pat if you have changed your nationality, I wish that you should join PIA to steer it out from the muddle and the puddle which is your moral duty if not moral obligation. Why should we look around for a brain to PIA back on its feet when you are very much there? Had you written your contacts like I do then I have contacted you directly suggesting to work for PIA? Did I annoy you or please you? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / Cell 66229897 / zaidi-former-diplomat@hotmail.com

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irfan

Feb 02, 2016 06:55pm

PIA seemed to be hijacked by numerous PIA unions.

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Merchant

Feb 02, 2016 06:55pm

We should instead blame the corrupt crops of politicians who have destroyed PIA purely for personal gains and greed.

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Abdullah

Feb 02, 2016 07:13pm

@Khan Lala so how the GM marketing asking a passenger about service quality is related to political appointment?

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Nadeem

Feb 02, 2016 07:14pm

@Sajjad Instead of accepting and correcting the failure, Govt wants to sell PIA with the least ever possible price. As soon as PIA's operations got disturbed, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi increased his airline's ticket prices. Govt will sell it to one of the cabinet members and then everyone will share the profit of an already established business. There is no big deal in fixing PIA's current state, just need sincerity...

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Sarwat

Feb 02, 2016 07:19pm

This is all a deliberate attempt by the nawaz government to sell PIA to one of his comrades for few cents on a dollar. The result would be the same as KESC and now KSE. Bad service, sold copper wires to India, which was not theirs to sell. This is what's going to happen to PIA. Dar is another responsible element in this debacle. I wonder if this government is at all Pakistani?

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Azad

Feb 02, 2016 07:20pm

@mohammad iqbal I agree with everything you said except your stereotype thinking about Nawabshah.....I am from Nawabshah and I am one of the top renowned doctors in United States.

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NAEEM FAKIR

Feb 02, 2016 07:29pm

The Government needs to just go ahead and terminate at this juncture every non essential employee without hesitation. No doubt the PPP is fanning the fire behind the scenes to draw away attention of the Government to it's corrupt Practices. There must be something wrong if PIA cannot function on the normal International employee ratio per aircraft. If I remember it was Over 700 people per Aircraft in PIA whereas the The norm is less than 200. The problem with our Country is that we cannot make the difficult decisions at the right time.

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Iqbal Khan

Feb 02, 2016 07:39pm

One solution! Revamp the top management level with qualified, experienced and proven efficient personnels. Fire the rest. Make PIA profitable and then go for privstisation. This is the matter of managing organisation, nothing else.

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Feb 02, 2016 07:43pm

I don't know when our Police will learn to control and act sanely when confronting a charged crowd or protesters...they always end up killing someone and destroying all the moral values (if any) govt stands on...and which results in the favor of the protesters not that i am saying that they are right on this instance.

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saz

Feb 02, 2016 07:50pm

PML N is selling national assets and filling their pockets.

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Indiana Janardhan

Feb 02, 2016 07:52pm

Is anyone returning their awards in Pakistan?

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Pratap

Feb 02, 2016 07:55pm

Intolerance anyone?

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Ghani K

Feb 02, 2016 08:09pm

Thousands of employees mostly recruited during PPP's rule, all for political favour - Airline is practically bankcrupt. - sell it, get rid of it

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Cyrus

Feb 02, 2016 08:13pm

@Sarmad .... Let us not forget that the union got two employees killed at the first whiff of a possible sale. If they wanted to strike they should have waited to find out at least some details of what would happen during an actual sale.

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Ahmer

Feb 02, 2016 08:51pm

@Concerned Umm.. things you said are correct, however no ATR is used for international flights.

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zain

Feb 02, 2016 08:55pm

Why these employees protests is because they don't want to deliver, work and perform. They are lazy enough to work that is why run from competition. I'm totally in favour of fair PIA privatisation.

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Mian hamid

Feb 02, 2016 08:59pm

@Sajjad Yes he must be from the same city, because he knows his city background and can understand the people mentality. Not a person from other city to come and start looting, like they are doing now. But we are not in the favor of privatizing it. it belongs to Pakistan and it is a Proud of our country. It must improve its services.

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Just Someone

Feb 02, 2016 09:18pm

The domestic air traffic in Pakistan is already low compared to other countries and now it will become lower still.

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Just Someone

Feb 02, 2016 09:26pm

PIA has increased the number of planes to bring down the employee to plane ratio. But how many people have realized that many of the new ATR's have a seating capacity of 50 to 75 seats. Plus some of the planes are on wet lease, so they come with their own crew to operate and maintain. This reduction of employee to plane ratio is just an eyewash.

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Just Someone

Feb 02, 2016 09:30pm

Considering that PIA has closed many non-profitable routes, I am wondering what was the need to reverse the code-sharing arrangement with Turkish Airline? As their marketing partner PIA would have earned from the tickets sold on Turkish Airlines and not needed to operate these unprofitable routes for the past 4 - 5 years. The scrapping of the code share agreement was again on the pressure of the PIA employees. The employees of PIA are themselves not sincere with their organization.

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Just Someone

Feb 02, 2016 09:33pm

@straight.fwdperson: I personally know of one person who was hired in PIA by the Benazir govt. in the 1996 on political basis. She was fired by Nawaz Sharif govt. in 1997. She got married and went to US. Last PPP govt. reinstated all employees fired by NS in 1997, including her and paid her a salary of some 12 - 13 years. She came back, joined PIA, took her dues that amounted to more than 2 carore rupees, resigned the next day and left.

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Just Someone

Feb 02, 2016 09:35pm

@Rana Chakwal : We should not privatize Mari gas. The problem however also is that it will take at least 2 to 3 years for the share prices of Mari gas to recover. The real time to sell, was in June 2014, when govt. was originally selling 10% shares of OGDCL and PTI dharnas delayed the sale.

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Just Someone

Feb 02, 2016 09:35pm

Politics should not be mixed with business and economics.

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Zafar

Feb 02, 2016 09:37pm

Is there something that we can do without creating a mess! Looks like that is not possible. Overstaffing is a problem. There is no easy way out. Government has to swallow this bitter pill by offering these employees a golden handshake so that they have some cushion and can try to move on. Otherwise if you just threaten to fire these people, there will be blood on the streets as we are witnessing now!

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Gawal Mandi Ya

Feb 02, 2016 10:13pm

PIA was once one of the best airlines in the world because of their safety records,second to non best pilots and unmatched customer service,they were welcomed around the GLOBE.How we bring PIA back to glory days is simple,find a few educated and seasoned investors who know business,privatize the airline,its the only way,but they should be Pakistani investors so they know how to deal with the people and the issues.Right now PIA is losing BILLIONS.,its a joke considering its our countries flagship airline,it has our flag on it.

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yousuf47 London

Feb 02, 2016 10:17pm

The tragic loss of lives is regrettable and no amount of condemnation will bring back loved ones of those who tragically fell whilst protesting to what is their basic human right. Both PM and one of his Minister spoke in harsher tones and is reminiscet of tragic incident in Lahore when 14 lives were tragically lost. The Government had shown zero intolerance with Dr Qadri too in Islamabad too and unless heads roll quickly, it may spiral out of control.

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Ady

Feb 02, 2016 11:17pm

We have to travel from London to lahore truly because of it is the only direct flight otherwise I'll never ever use Pia due to rubbish service and 'jail food', high fares, and rude staff. Bring the change and change PIA

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Islam shah

Feb 02, 2016 11:24pm

@Sarmad could that still be a better option than now

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syed

Feb 02, 2016 11:58pm

give it to the army if you don't want to privatize

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Usama Tahirkheli

Feb 03, 2016 12:01am

If they wont let PIA to be privatized, then just file for bankruptcy. Pan Am was the identity of America in 20th century. When things went bad for them, nobody came to save them. Same should happen to PIA. We are done paying for free employ and VIP seats.

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noshin

Feb 03, 2016 12:39am

Nawaz sharif is posing like an autocratic ruler!

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Feb 03, 2016 01:41am

What a great tragedy?

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Justwasif

Feb 03, 2016 03:18am

A sad tale

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Azmeen

Feb 03, 2016 05:02am

PIA staff has no right of hijacking the organization and making passengers' life miserable through halting flight operations.

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PHIL

Feb 03, 2016 05:32am

i am a foreigner using PIA time to time. First feeling with this company is the global missmanagement from Top to Bottom and this can happen in any kind of company private or public. The difference is in same missmanagement conditions and because of competition, the private company would have collapsed since long while the public company is still operating thanks to funds provided by Government body or in other words funds provided by you the Pakistani people through the taxes you are paying. Is it good or bad ? In my opinion only payers can decide ! How ? Trough their votes during elections !

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Shaukat ali

Feb 03, 2016 07:05am

Every person striking no matter what the seniority should be fired without pension and benefits. Make a lesson out of these losers. They are all worried about actually having to put on a smile and work hard for their ghost salaries. Shut down the airline if you have to, one by one hire new people including pilots. Fix the airline from the bottom up.

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Shaukat ali

Feb 03, 2016 07:18am

Dissolve the PIA, cut your losses. Flying large international airlines in a very risky business even if managed properly. Iconic airlines like TWA and Pan Am shut down in USA. Open the local and international routes to all airlines and see the quality go up and the prices go down. Along with the best service.

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