RAWALPINDI: Pakistan International Air­lines (PIA) has started paying dues to its employees who have opted for Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) and made full payments to more than 100 such workers on Wednesday.

PIA’s spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said that the airline’s chief financial officer Khalilullah Sheikh distributed cheques among the ex-emp­loyees at a ceremony held at the PIA head office.

PIA introduced the VSS after the federal government’s approval, which benefited about 2,000 employees. The finance ministry allocated Rs9.6 billion for the purpose during the current financial year.

PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik thanked the Ministry of Aviation and Accountant General of Pakistan for the payments.

Following the release of the funds, the PIA management said it would complete the process of payments to the employees who had opted for VSS within the next few weeks.

About 2,000 PIA employees had availed the VSS offer before its expiry on Dec 31, 2020.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2021