PIA protest turning into a political crisis

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

QUETTA: PIA employees hold a sit-in outside the PIA Head Office here on Thursday to protest against the proposed privatisation of the airline.—INP

ISLAMABAD: The ongoing protest by PIA employees against the proposed privatisation seems to be turning into a political crisis and started affecting the working of parliament.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping had to adjourn its main agenda on Thursday because of failure of senior ministry officials to reach Islamabad because of non-availability of flights.

The committee, headed by Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, was to scrutinise the budgetary proposals of the ministry relating to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the federal budget for the upcoming financial year 2016-17, besides approving minutes of the previous meeting held on Dec 21 last year.

However, at the outset of the meeting members were informed that senior officials of the ports and shipping ministry, who were to attend the meeting could not leave Karachi for Islamabad because of suspension of flights and strike by the PIA employees.

Flight operations’ suspension starts affecting parliament proceedings

All PIA flight operations have been suspended for the last two days because of the protest, causing problems for passengers.

The committee members found no other option but to defer the agenda after approving minutes of the last meeting.

No new date for the meeting has been announced.

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping is also scheduled to be held on Feb 12 to take up issues related to Karachi Port Trust (KPT).

The opposition parties, which are expressing solidarity with protesting PIA employees, had already submitted requisition notices to the National Assembly and the Senate secretariats to convene sessions of the two houses to discuss the PIA fiasco.

Those attended the NA committee’s meeting included Akram Ansari, Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, Mehar Ishtiaq Ahmed, Seema Mohyuddin, Shaheen Shafiq, Romina Khurshid, Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla, Khalil George, Lal Chand Malhi, Salman Baloch, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Jamaluddin and Malik Aamir Dogar besides the federal minister.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2016

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Ahmed USA

Feb 05, 2016 07:20am

PIA like other state owned enterprises is not only plagued by misgovernance but it also has one of the highest employee to aircraft ratio in the world i.e. 780 employees per serviceable aircraft i.e. total 19,500 employees (16,500 regular and 3,000 contract = 19,500) … Out of the fleet of 38 aircrafts only 25 are serviceable… Ideal ratio should be at the most 100 employees per aircraft… So what do we do with the additional force of 15,700 to 17,000 employees… Start merit based "Employee Retention Program" and ask all employees especially political appointees hired since 1988 to go through re-evaluation of qualification and experience process... Goal should be to retain an ideal workforce of 2500 to 3800 depending on the number of planes in service… Moreover, it is high time to reconsider “Open Sky Policy” which has not been beneficial for PIA and start charging foreign airlines “Royalty Fee” per passenger… Finally, stop political interference to make PIA again a viable enterprise…

Recommend 0

Muhammad Shrafat

Feb 05, 2016 07:38am

Our sick politicians are supporting culprits by creating state of limbo. This had to be finished in simple and easy way, i don't feel for PIA. It had been burried years ago.

Recommend 0

Keti Zilgish

Feb 05, 2016 08:00am

For the sake of an argument if we take the beginning of the present PIA inspired crisis to be the PM asserting his authority (which is nothing new because that is what a ruler is) we can clearly observe that all systems of power and control over others have an uncensored pornographic essence that often passes off as politics.

Recommend 0

Yousuf47 London

Feb 05, 2016 12:53pm

The deal stinks as anything not in public knowledge has words of impropriety written all over it. The Government instead of taking a rigid stance, should look at publishing details of sell off. There are three lives lost and as with all enquiries, it is likely to be brushed under the carpet. The Government should own up, accept responsibility in its failure to provide security to protestors.

Recommend 0

Fawzia

Feb 05, 2016 01:16pm

In my opinion it would be better for all political parties to be on the same page in an attempt to call for an end to this strike that has resulted in loss of revenue in the billions to our country. This monetary loss should not be understood as empowerment but as shame. privatization has both advantages and disadvantages. Our country, at present, does not have the finances to bail out this loss generating entity. The important factor is that the process should be transparent from start to finish.

Recommend 0

Khanm

Feb 05, 2016 07:29pm

What is new...PIA has always been a mistress of ruling the political party. It has been used misused and abused..

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Ali

Feb 05, 2016 08:18pm

@Ahmed USA....your practical solutions can certainly help turn PIA around. In USA over 50 airlines had filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, including United Airlines, American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, besides General Motors and other giants. This legal option allows the business to reorganize its debt under protection of bankruptcy court. Its a way forward to protect the business and company's assets while it negotiates new terms with creditors to emerge better and stronger. Also in USA, President Reagan had sacked 12,000 air traffic controllers for an illegal strike, he called in air force controllers to manage vital air operations. Eventually new civilian air traffic controllers were hired. So even in successful American democratic system, you can't let greedy unions create mayhem and national crisis. PM Nawaz Sharif should take tough action in the national interest and not succumb to airline union threats and violence, which harms the airline and the country.

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