E-Paper | June 19, 2026

Instead of soft music, PIA to now welcome passengers with Qaseeda Burda Sharif

Dawn.com Published January 16, 2019
The Qaseeda Burda Sharif, a popular Islamic hymn, will be played while passengers board PIA airplanes. — Photo: PIA/File
The Qaseeda Burda Sharif, a popular Islamic hymn, will be played while passengers board PIA airplanes. — Photo: PIA/File
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The Pakistan Internat­ional Airlines (PIA) has decided to welcome passengers on board with the Qaseeda Burda Sharif playing in the background, instead of soft music.

A rendition of the Qaseeda Burda Sharif, a popular Islamic hymn, will be played while passengers board PIA airplanes for all domestic and international flights, PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar told Dawn.com on Wednesday.

The hymn will also be played during taxiing — but only on flights heading to the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Madina.

The PIA spokesperson denied reports that the national flag-carrier had banned all sorts of music on its flights, saying passengers will have access to the inflight entertainment system available on the aircraft.

PIA flights traditionally also commence with a recitation of the Islamic prayer said at the start of a journey.

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Tanveer
Jan 16, 2019 11:38pm
Just love burda sharif wont mind ...and would love to start using PIA - get your act together and PIA can become Best in the world again
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Anonymous
Jan 16, 2019 11:47pm
Good initiative by Islamic republic of Pakistan.
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Nayyar Rashid
Jan 16, 2019 11:55pm
Instead of this PIA should work on improving the behaviour of flight attendants and it's airplane... These things do not count when there is no overall quality...
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Amjad Wyne
Jan 16, 2019 11:56pm
Music did not destroy PIA and Qaseeda will not save it...the idea that such gimmicks can compensate for theft of property, drug smuggling, people trafficking, poor management and lack of professionalism rampant across PIA is beyond human imagination.
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zia
Jan 16, 2019 11:57pm
I am a regular traveler on one of PK most profitable route between Toronto/Pakistan, None of their in flight entertainment system works, Same is the case with reading lights and other call buttons, Your only enjoyment is to close your eyes and have a nice sleep with a break for hard to digest food.
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Nadeem Yousuf
Jan 16, 2019 11:59pm
I thought PIA needed a revival to survive!
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Reality
Jan 17, 2019 12:04am
Inflight entertainment systems are usually not working on International flights. We had had 2 bad experiences.
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Jawad Asif
Jan 17, 2019 12:10am
Is this really required ?? Let people decide what they want to hear. You please improve services instrad
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HA
Jan 17, 2019 12:29am
And this is how PIA will be revived and cut down on losses. Elephant in the room guys!
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Zak
Jan 17, 2019 12:31am
Just get a new management and revive it.
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WARRIs
Jan 17, 2019 12:36am
Is this going to make the service any better?? Seems just like sacrificing a black goat on the tarmac hoping it will help avoiding a crash!!!
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Patriot
Jan 17, 2019 12:49am
Rather than "Islamisation:" of the airline, improve your service to stay afloat.
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Parvez
Jan 17, 2019 12:52am
These gimmicks can't work. Get on with efficiency.
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Khanm
Jan 17, 2019 12:53am
Would it make is corruption free ...religion should be in heart and soul. Just like listening to music does not make u a musician...
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Ali
Jan 17, 2019 01:01am
A great help that it going to do. Improve service. It trumps everything else.
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Alla Bux
Jan 17, 2019 01:02am
Is this supposed to save the airline? Good luck, then.
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faisalshah
Jan 17, 2019 01:16am
is it for Saudi Airlines or really for PIA? or simply we have definitely become saudi arabia...
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N khan
Jan 17, 2019 01:21am
Yet more gimmicky !!
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Akhtar
Jan 17, 2019 01:22am
PIA also needs to improve its inflight entertainment system. It is a must in todays world. It almost never works and stuff on it is laso very old.
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Gordon D. Walker
Jan 17, 2019 01:30am
How about the music of good service, helpful flight attendants, reliable airplanes, competitive pricing and on time schedules... Gordon D. Walker Canada
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The writer
Jan 17, 2019 01:52am
@zia , You have destroyed the planes through rough use.
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The writer
Jan 17, 2019 01:54am
@Jawad Asif, if people are asked to decide what they want to hear when they board, everyone will need personal headphones and players.
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Defacto
Jan 17, 2019 01:57am
Great people to fly with!
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gj
Jan 17, 2019 01:57am
how will that help pia survive.
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Sahaid
Jan 17, 2019 02:07am
Now i know they have gotten to the bottom of the problem
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Shahryar Shirazi
Jan 17, 2019 02:10am
Can you please focus in managing this airline rather than playing gimmicks like these ?
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Jamal
Jan 17, 2019 02:19am
I tried PIA one time, and it was terrible experience. Please avoid PIA at all cost.
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Changez Khan
Jan 17, 2019 02:22am
Excellent change by PIA.
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Syed
Jan 17, 2019 02:24am
It's funny they remember only when flying. Otherwise see the Pakistani plays played on pak television
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Javed
Jan 17, 2019 02:31am
@zia , then why are you wasting your hard earned money??
Recommend 0
Ali Sabir
Jan 17, 2019 02:32am
@Nayyar Rashid, ... Hear, Hear.
Recommend 0
Javed
Jan 17, 2019 02:33am
Wake Up... There is no turning around for PIA. Period.
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Imtiaz Ali Khan
Jan 17, 2019 02:48am
It's fine as long it's only for specific religious based crowd flights. Not for all flights in my opinion. Pakistan I love you.
Recommend 0
Masood
Jan 17, 2019 02:50am
Please focus on improvement of services. Improve efficiency , punctuality , discipline and overall productivity and professionalism Every thing will fall into place!
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Javed
Jan 17, 2019 02:59am
Burda Shariff would not save PIA from further deterioration but hiring people on merit, hard work, dedication, relevant training and honesty will.
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Omar
Jan 17, 2019 03:14am
@Amjad Wyne, Top Comment....
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ZAK
Jan 17, 2019 03:20am
We as a nation concentrate more on other irrelevant than the actual issues.
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Ijaz
Jan 17, 2019 03:23am
Instead of fixing basic problems at PIA, as usual the powers that be are pandering to religious sentiment. Whilst I enjoy qasida burda sharif, I am not sure it has a place being publicly aired at an audience that may neither understand or appreciate it.
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Observer
Jan 17, 2019 03:31am
Amazing initiative!!
Recommend 0
Omar
Jan 17, 2019 03:31am
I think times are near when we will see air hostess in burka.
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Salman
Jan 17, 2019 03:36am
This is not a decision to be announced for publication . There are better things to be done
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Dr Asif
Jan 17, 2019 03:39am
The lights weren't working. No blankets or pillows on an overnight flight from Manchester to Lahore. The food wasn't even proper airline food. It was covered with foil from a local restaurant. Who are you kidding? It used the best airline back in 2004. Didn't know that in next 16 years; it would fall down to this level.
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Common Sense
Jan 17, 2019 03:52am
What a joke
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Raj
Jan 17, 2019 03:52am
What about non muslims passengers?
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Naeem
Jan 17, 2019 04:04am
When did onboard entertainment work on PIA flights? I traveled three times to Islamabad from London in last 12 months on flight entertainment was not working not even in business class. London to Islamabad route PIA have had a monopoly wait until the summer when BA starts flights again. Over staffed, incompetent, shabby aeroplanes no understanding of what customer service is that’s PIA for you. It hurts me to write this as a Pakistani.
Recommend 0
Uzair
Jan 17, 2019 04:43am
They'll try new paint job, logo, replace music, change uniform, colour schemes, or just about anything besides the core things driving the customers away including reliable schedule, responsible staff and baggage handling, well maintained aircrafts, good customer service and communication etc.
Recommend 0
Mbhatty
Jan 17, 2019 04:50am
Correct. After all the cries of mismanagement and corruption that come up with this. It is typical of this Govt. to talk only but no action or frivolous solutions. Is it going to solve the PIA problems.
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Ali kazmi
Jan 17, 2019 04:57am
@Nayyar Rashid, Why instead of this? Why can't you do this and improve whatever else can be improved?
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Azam Qadeer
Jan 17, 2019 05:06am
I always travelerd on one of PK most profitable route between JFK NY/Pakistan, None of their in flight entertainment system works, Same is the case with reading lights and other call buttons, Your only enjoyment was to close your eyes and have a nice sleep so when you land in Lahore next day were ready for work I miss that flight thanks to unprofessional team
Recommend 0
Nadeem
Jan 17, 2019 05:25am
Only Burda Sharif will not make PIA the airlines it was. Efficiency and hard work is also required for progress.
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IKFan
Jan 17, 2019 05:27am
Good initiative. PIA should make itself more friendly to muslims. Western way of doing things didn't work.
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Bilal
Jan 17, 2019 05:32am
What about for non muslims??
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JK
Jan 17, 2019 05:47am
@zia , sounds excrutiating! Why are you a regular PIA traveler then?
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L.Ahmad
Jan 17, 2019 05:50am
American and European airlines neither recite the Bible nor play the hymns. Airline is a business not a religious class.
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Awalmir
Jan 17, 2019 06:14am
Given the quality of PIA pilots, prayers are the only thing that can help the passengers.
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Khaled
Jan 17, 2019 06:25am
@Amjad Wyne, Very true.
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Shaukat Ashai
Jan 17, 2019 06:46am
One more reason not to fly PÍA. Don’t force religion down peoples throat. If you want to become international player this doesn’t help.
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Hameed Ahmad
Jan 17, 2019 06:51am
These are all gimmicks. Instead they should improve in flight service and bring it in line with other leading airlines.
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EAM
Jan 17, 2019 07:05am
Good move! That should fix everything else
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ARIF UR RAHMAN
Jan 17, 2019 07:23am
Cosmetic changes won't work. Take some real steps to improve the airline.
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M.Jan
Jan 17, 2019 07:31am
It is probably a sign that PIA is now relying on divine assistance to fly it's passengers safely. It is time to get rid of this shambolic entity and start fresh with a new airline run by professionals.
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Tayyab Qader
Jan 17, 2019 07:38am
Honestly speaking, I loved to fly by PIA although I had to take the indirect flight from New York. Unfortunately I decided back in 2005 not to fly by PIA any more due to misbehaviour of its staff. I hope they could improve their staff's dealing with the passengers!
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Rafay
Jan 17, 2019 07:48am
Good. All the 'olds' must change to 'News' in our National Carrier.
Recommend 0
Iqbal Khan
Jan 17, 2019 07:52am
All the problems will be solved now and the airline will come into profit.
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Farhan
Jan 17, 2019 07:55am
Great change..but change needs to happen in delivering quality service. I am sure if sincerity is there it can become one of the worlds best airline. Have faith in yourself and work hard.
Recommend 0
Nadeem Yousuf
Jan 17, 2019 07:57am
@The writer, That's what is made available on any international airline these days!
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Usman L
Jan 17, 2019 07:58am
Hopefully the verses being played will also instruct the air hostesses to be kind and not unduly rude to the paying passengers.. Also less luggage should be” lost” as a part of this program.
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LAHORI KID
Jan 17, 2019 08:09am
That still won't make it profitable
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Rafeeq Zulf
Jan 17, 2019 08:10am
I travel on PIA Toronto to Karachi round trip flights every two months. . ... only because they are cheap and an extra bag is allowed. The staff at PIA are very rude, very careless and very unresponsive. The food is horrible, the entertainment never working condition. Never.
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LAHORI KID
Jan 17, 2019 08:11am
Make changes in the quality of people you hire, people can live with any type of music, as long as they are treated with respect. Get your priorities in order PIA
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Atif
Jan 17, 2019 08:15am
Nice..
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Kaka
Jan 17, 2019 08:26am
Imposition of an Islamic hymn on non-Islamic passengers is Unfair and unethical. This is also going to steer away the non-Islamics further away from travelling on PIA. Not a very wise business decision either I'd say. and what does PIA stand to gain from it? Nothing.
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Dr.M.S.Awan
Jan 17, 2019 08:34am
New look PIA looks good.Changes being introduced by new CEO are a step in the right direction.Hopefully,PIA will attract more passengers and will be a viable 'national flag carrier' in near future.
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fida hussain
Jan 17, 2019 09:34am
great, its will be mind blowing for passengers . Good move by PIA
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Reality Bites
Jan 17, 2019 09:59am
Who cares about music its in the background and usually tuned out. Weed out your sifarishi, incompetent, only working for paychecks and nonserious employees. It's a fact that most of our planes are grounded due to lack of spare parts, we don't have the money to buy those parts, let go overstaffed employees, disband the kitchen services, instead hire a contractor for food. Time to bite the bullets and make tough decisions.
Recommend 0
Khalid khan
Jan 17, 2019 10:23am
When at the verge of collapse they thought this...Islamic symbols should not be used for a corrupt institute..
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Obaid Ur Rehman
Jan 17, 2019 10:26am
Excellent initiative
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RIAZULLAH BAIG
Jan 17, 2019 10:59am
@Amjad Wyne, agree with the truth and ironically they don't seem to be taking any real steps but fooling around only!
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Yasir
Jan 17, 2019 11:41am
Burda Sharif of Quranic recitation will not help until PIA helps itself!!
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sanjeev
Jan 17, 2019 11:48am
Nice Move. Pray when you fly PIA.
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Rubina Jan
Jan 17, 2019 01:57pm
Obviously when the airline is run by incompetent people they can only touch trivial matters which do not bring any improvement. Had there been competent people they would have thought of improving the performance of the airline.
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A
Jan 18, 2019 01:18am
@Nayyar Rashid, i have always chosen PIA for trip to Pakistan and i found the crew to be cery polite and hospitable. However, I found the attitude of the passengers rude, arrogant and disrespectful. In my opinion passengers need to change their attitude before complaining about the crew. I do agree about the conditions of the planes, it definitely needs a big MASSIVE improvement!
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A
Jan 18, 2019 01:25am
PIA needs to spend money on improving their aircrafts instead of pocketing all earnings to improve/spoil their own lifestyle
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k p rao
Jan 18, 2019 08:24am
@Alla Bux, Only good management and good intentions can save PIA and not such gimmicks
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Naya Pakistani
Jan 18, 2019 08:50am
very good initiative. more loved if its in Junaid Jamshed voice.
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Sunnyboy
Jan 18, 2019 09:04am
Instead of prayers and hymns, PIA should focus on safety and customer service. Hymns might be another reason, I may never travel on PIA because I like soft music.
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Wahab
Jan 18, 2019 09:05am
Great choice! proud to be a muslim
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kalim
Jan 18, 2019 10:06am
good practice
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observer
Jan 18, 2019 10:30am
Some may approve, others may not, better for P.I.A. to concentrate of their planes, safety, service, training, maintenance, punctuality, cleanliness and hygiene, financing, over staffing, unqualified staff etc. This will not make any difference, only part of our national penchant for hypocrisy, the less the better for the passengers and for P.I.A.
Recommend 0
Liaquat
Jan 18, 2019 10:45am
What about getting fat out of PIA and injecting professionalism in the organization! Soft idea won't change a thing!
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fairplay
Jan 18, 2019 12:49pm
first ensure that only qualified personnel with legal degrees and diplomas are serving on board. jail and fine all offenders, and cancel all benefits permanently, while black listing them from getting any government employment.
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Pakistani
Jan 18, 2019 02:07pm
@Amjad Wyne, Spot on.
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Salman
Jan 18, 2019 03:36pm
@The writer, Personnal headphones are provided in good international airlines, and the user has got a list of options for the channels, with personnal screens for every passenger.
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Shahzad
Jan 18, 2019 04:20pm
This is all good but until you don't train your staff properly nothing would change. Recruit people who've interest in what they're doing and then train them and inshaALLAH you'll see PIA would become one of the better if not one of the best airlines in the world.
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Justice
Jan 18, 2019 04:26pm
Improve your service PIA........I lost my luggage from Manchester to Islamabad flight last year. Your rivals (Emirates, Qatar etc) providing profound services.
Recommend 0
Shakeel
Jan 18, 2019 04:57pm
@L.Ahmad, Then you are free to take your business to another airline or another means of transport altogether.
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Ganesh S
Jan 18, 2019 05:40pm
Though I have never heard the Qaseeda, it doesn't sound like a good idea to use religious hymns for secular activity. I only hope Air India doesn't get "inspired" by this move and start recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa (a Hindu devotional hymn) in all its flights. This gimmick just about beats the outdated idea of national governments running airlines, rather than leaving it to the private sector.
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ahmad
Jan 18, 2019 06:05pm
"but only on flights heading to the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Madina" So this was a clickbait
Recommend 0
Khalid_Toronto
Jan 18, 2019 07:09pm
@Gordon D. Walker, Same can be said of Air Canada.
Recommend 0
Ali
Jan 18, 2019 07:12pm
PIA instead of cosmetic changes should focus on real issue which have devastated the national flag carrier. Ban political unions, "People's Unity" aligned with PPP and "Air Alliance" with PML. Their sole purpose is to give jobs to political workers, who are not qualified or needed. PIA has 800 employees per aircraft, highest in the world, it should be half that. Whenever efforts were made to sack them, these mafia like unions went on strikes. They are the main reason for PIA's failure and bankruptcy. These political unions must be banned, only professional airline unions allowed. The government needs bold restructuring to save PIA.
Recommend 0
Aamir
Jan 18, 2019 07:18pm
Par for the course for PIA. Instead of doing something concrete to improve the financial standing and overall performance of the airline they have decided to play a hymn.
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Adnan A
Jan 18, 2019 07:22pm
Bankrupt airline, accelerating its further demise.
Recommend 0
Alla Bux
Jan 18, 2019 07:31pm
@k p rao, I am aware of that. We also sacrificed a black goat on the tarmac to imrove the efficiency of the PIA but that did not work, I guess and so this gimmick. Fire half the staff and stop money losing flights. That is the only way to make profit.
Recommend 0
Shahdab
Jan 18, 2019 07:46pm
@A, Are you sure you'r talking about PIA ?
Recommend 0
Majeed at Thani
Jan 18, 2019 07:51pm
One is still waiting for the announcement that political appointees have been politely shown the door.
Recommend 0
John hoffman
Jan 18, 2019 08:12pm
Remove excess staff
Recommend 0
Faran
Jan 18, 2019 08:12pm
At least keep the airline secular Sir. Tomorrow people will start offering Namaz in airline and object others for not following..
Recommend 0
Pawan
Jan 18, 2019 08:52pm
This clearly shows how Pakistan gets all its priorities wrong.
Recommend 0
LAHORI KID
Jan 18, 2019 08:58pm
To make business decisions, to overcome the failures of PIA, it’s better to bring stability, quality people, discipline, on time flights, reducing the number of crew per planes, professionalism, courtesy are among other ways to lift PIA’s reputation and increase profitability, focusing on religious ways to impress a few is not the way. PIA is a business, not a madrassa. We have got to get past trying to impress with wrong decisions. PIA could and should corner the market of flying out of Pakistan, PIA should be untouchable.
Recommend 0
Marie Rodrigues
Jan 18, 2019 09:46pm
this is naya pakistan
Recommend 0
Syed Tanwir Hasan
Jan 18, 2019 11:04pm
I am waiting for the day when PIA is closed down.
Recommend 0
AHS
Jan 19, 2019 03:51am
why dont you fix the airline and the planes first
Recommend 0
Omar
Jan 19, 2019 06:13am
PIA is an international airline, it is trying to get more foreign travellers, like it had in the 60’s, and try to to get back to it’s glory days. Being a international carrier it should try to be music neutral on all routes, except on flights to Saudi Arabia.
Recommend 0
Shahzad Kazi
Jan 19, 2019 09:40am
@Tanveer, Great work. This should solve PIA's problems and make it profitable again.
Recommend 0
Mir
Jan 19, 2019 09:49am
And Air hostess will serve passengers in veils....
Recommend 0
Impartial
Jan 19, 2019 02:03pm
Incorrect diagnosis! Will not lead to any cure for the airline sickness!!
Recommend 0
Abdul H Khan
Jan 19, 2019 09:27pm
I try not to fly PIA
Recommend 0

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