‘Launching new airline easier than reviving PIA’

Published January 15, 2019
PIA chairman Arshad Malik says revival of national flag bearer is a daunting task. — File photo
PIA chairman Arshad Malik says revival of national flag bearer is a daunting task. — File photo

FAISALABAD: PIA Chairman Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik says short-term and long-term plans are in the works to revive the airline.

Addressing members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Monday, he said revival was a daunting task as compared to launching a new airline.

Also read: Another go at a PIA turnaround

The chairman said getting rid of seven loss-making routes was his first priority. He said three direct flights from Faisalabad to Jeddah would be introduced from Feb 15. He said two different teams would visit Faisalabad next week to review the expansion of the runway and to evaluate local cargo potential.

He said 18,000 workers were on the airline payroll and the number was high compared to international standards.

FCC President Syed Zia Alumdar Hussain and former FPCCI president Mian Idrees also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Political sacrifice
Updated 30 Nov, 2023

Political sacrifice

Imran deserves praise for displaying political maturity in handling party's chairmanship transition.
‘Quick-fix’ nation
30 Nov, 2023

‘Quick-fix’ nation

THE impulse for policy prescriptions that will quickly ‘fix’ the rotten economy, create tens of hundreds of jobs...
Narcotics menace
30 Nov, 2023

Narcotics menace

WE are watching a tragedy unfold — the curse of substance abuse and addiction hits every fourth household in...
Sindh lawlessness
29 Nov, 2023

Sindh lawlessness

GOVERNMENTS come and go, but little has been done to control rampant crime across Sindh, particularly its lawless...
New compact
29 Nov, 2023

New compact

AS elections approach ever closer without any tangible improvement in the political atmosphere, there has been a...
Climate crossroads
Updated 29 Nov, 2023

Climate crossroads

As Pakistan presents its case at COP28, the focus must be on ensuring that the L&D fund.