RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan International Airlines has expressed grief over the heavy loss of lives in the oil tanker fire in Bahawalpur and announced free air travel for the burn victims from Bahawalpur to Multan, Lahore and Karachi for treatment purposes.

A PIA spokesman in a statement said PIA Chief Executive Officer Nayyar Hayat announced free travel for the burn victims from Bahawalpur to Multan and Karachi for treatment. He also announced a 50pc discount on the air ticket for one accompanying relative or friend.

Mr Hayat instructed the PIA Bahawalpur administration to extend all possible help to the victims.

The spokesman said the PIA staff had already started making necessary arrangements for airlifting the burn victims to Karachi, Lahore and Multan.

Meanwhile, Pims Burn Centre was put on alert on Sunday after the oil tanker inferno in Bahawalpur, on directions from Capital Administration and Development Division Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.

Pims Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram told Dawn they had heard that injured victims may be brought to Islamabad, so six beds have been reserved at the Pims centre.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2017