PESHAWAR: Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) termed Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) a vital national asset and vowed to protect it.

SAEP members voiced their concerns about the possible privatisation of the national flag carrier in a statement released here on Sunday, stressing that the action would have an overall negative impact on both passengers and the country.

Mr Khan restated their shared determination to defend the national airline against privatisation and other harmful measures, saying, “SAEP plays an essential role in PIA’s development.”

SAEP president Abdullah Jadoon Khan stated that they would not abandon PIA since it was their responsibility to preserve this national resource, which offered passengers reasonably priced tickets and repatriated deceased bodies back to the country without charge.

Mr Khan criticised the airline’s administration for poor decisions which led to PIA’s operational setbacks, including the grounding of two aircraft in Karachi and two others that remained stranded in Indonesia for 26 months.

“The PIA’s challenges are compounded by the closure of international routes, which is unfair to the dedicated employees working for the national airline’s prosperity,” the statement quoted SAEP vice president Engr Shamim Shah Afridi as saying.

According to the statement, the society remained unwavering in its resolve to protect the airline’s reputation and make sure it continued to be a source of pride for the country while the PIA’s future was being considered.

“SAEP is a robust organisation with over 600 members across all airports in the country, dedicated to maintaining and improving PIA’s operations,” the statement added.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024