OUR national carrier, PIA, was set up in 1955. It was placed under the defence ministry. The country was then still a fledgling state, and its safety was considered paramount. Since then the nation and the national carrier have come a long way, seeing many triumphs and a few tragedies.

Our national air carrier can regain its past glory. I have the following suggestions to put PIA back on sound footing.

Pakistan has chanceries in many countries and has missions in more than 100 cities. There is a PIA flight to many cities where we have a chancery. Thus PIA station managers and cargo staff hire expensive buildings on rent. In such cases, all PIA offices can be shifted to chancery premises, if feasible. This measure can substantially reduce costs, and yield more revenue as people coming to our diplomatic missions for various purposes become a source of business.

The government should carry out a study to determine whether the idea holds any merit.

Syed Mahmood Hasnain
Karachi

(2)

IT is indeed sad how the PIA saga has unfolded. May I point out to all concerned that all our inter-personal and state-citizen differences can be resolved amicably if we use empathy -- putting ourselves in the other’s shoes. I request all concerned to ponder.

A state and its citizens have a mother-and-child relationship. The government should ask itself, what if their child was facing job insecurity. How would a mother behave? Has the government explored other viable solutions? However, if this is the only option, has the government presented the real picture before the employees and sought their opinion?

On the other hand, I ask PIA employees: how would they feel if they had to take a flight for an urgent matter and find themselves stranded? Or for that matter, how would you feel if you are not able to carry your loved one to hospital?

I request all concerned to step back and take a deep breath and let sanity prevail. If all quarters start behaving compassionately, an acceptable solution will be found.

Khursheed Ahmed
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2016