FOR the last many years, millions of Pakistanis are forced to fly foreign airlines because of the non-availability of PIA flights. These foreign airlines — Emirates, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Thai Airways and the rest — give rough treatment to Pakistanis at airport.

They make them walk to the furthest corners of huge airports, send them by bus to the aircraft, and short-change them once they are on board. Yet it is through these very millions of Pakistani passengers that the foreign airlines are making huge profits.

In the good old days, PIA flights were frequent and their service was the best. The PIA staff today is still the most courteous of all airlines’ hosts but the top management is poor.

Prime Minister Imran Khan must initiate accountability of the PIA management and put the airline back on its feet.

The prime minister must select a new team to make it the airline profitable.

Rukhsana Shah

Lahore

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2019