Which Airbus has been handed over to PAF by Qatar Airways???

DEZI · Post by **DEZI** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:17 pm

Charliedelta11 wrote:is it even remotely possible that the A310 was given to the govt. of Pakistan because theres an under the table deal goling on between the Govt. of Pak and Qatar airways fro the privatisation of PIA ?
I'm saying this because Sino-pak relations are much better than qatar-pak relations..and well..they've never given our govt. any widebody as a GIFT...
and i doubt any of our high ups would go to qatar and beg for a widebody for private use..when they could just deepen our debt and buy one!

Charliedelta11. The Saif-ur-rehman/Nawaz Sharif mission is about to get accomplished. You are correct.

SalamPaks · Post by **SalamPaks** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:00 am

Dezi,

You mean to say (in this scenario) PIA would be to Qatar Airways what Sri Lankan is to Emirates.

H Khan · Post by **H Khan** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:17 am

Charliedelta11 wrote: I'm saying this because Sino-pak relations are much better than qatar-pak relations..and well..they've never given our govt. any widebody as a GIFT...

China has gifted PAF with tens of F-6, A-5 and F-7 along with T-59 tanks.

zerbaer · Post by **zerbaer** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:55 am

Qatar Airways flighths/frequencies to Peshawar, ISB etc have been raised!

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:03 am

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“Aircraft gifted by Qatar to be used by PM, presidentÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢

By Baqir Sajjad Syed

ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: An aircraft gifted by Qatar would be used by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesman said on Monday.

The Airbus A310-304, which was part of QatarÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s fleet, was handed over to Pakistan on Sunday.

Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Akbar Al Baker came to Pakistan especially to hand over the aircraft.

Mr Aziz accepted the gift saying the gesture of the Qatar government was a symbol of close ties and the desire of both the countries to strengthen their relations. The 89-seat aircraft is equipped with facilities like conference room.

The aircraft would most likely carry the PAF livery, PAF spokesman Air Commodore Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan said, adding that the operational details were being worked out.

President Musharraf is already having a Gulfstream for his travel. However, for overseas VVIP tours an Airbus with tail number AP-BEQ was mostly spared from Pakistan International AirlineÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s fleet.

The gift comes at a time when Qatar is pressing for additional flights to several Pakistani destinations, one of its longstanding demands. Qatar Airways, which is aggressively enhancing its international operations, is currently having 13 flights to Pakistan.

The 18-year-old aircraft bearing tail number A7-AAF was first flown on March 20, 1989, and has remained with Somalia and Yemen mostly on lease before it entered the Qatari fleet in 2001.

Source: DAWN

Charliedelta11 · Post by **Charliedelta11** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:38 am

the chinese gave us stuff we NEEDED to strengthen our defences against our eastern neighbour..which they too arent all that good on terms with eiither..once again i'm repeating myself...placing an order for a longhaul widebody private jet would have created an uproar in the senate BUT our two supreme leaders would have had their way...so why the gift?!
and the increasing frequencies to pakistan statement seems like crap to me..emirates has god knows how many flights to pak everyday..i dont see them giving us any gifts..so why this sudden show of generosity..plus..its not like while qatar aircraft are in paki. airspace pakistan isnt getting anything out of it..air space charges..ground handling charges..its pak. thats making money out of it...and we dont have many carriers operating here..thus the gift seems redundant to me..
i still go by my statement that some thing is up..

FMC · Post by **FMC** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:44 pm

All and subdry. Please try to comprehend Charliedelta11's messages. His analyses of 'The Qatri Connection' carries weight.

Moin · Post by **Moin** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:05 pm

Well if this gesture has anything to do with QR and the privatisation of PIA, I say please, take it off our hands! PIA would certainly fare a hell of alot better with QR's involvement than it is now, but the chances of that happening are highly unlikely. This probably has more to do with increasing frequency of flights but until anything is officially confirmed, we're merely speculating.

Charliedelta11 · Post by **Charliedelta11** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:28 pm

but then again..are'nt we 'merely speculating' about it all being just a way to allow an increase in frequencies too ?
true..it could be either..though i hope its privatisation..they've got the money to get PIA new aircraft and throw it back on track..andd the excusse that the govt needs PIA for official use is now a part of history..every province has its own jet...the 2 heads have their own jets too...so PIA is of little use to them now..

now only time will tell i guess..the privatisation commission is set to privatise PSO too now isnt it ? they've sold some of the countries most valuable assets..PIA's all thats left now after PSO..

ali_khan · Post by **ali_khan** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:12 am

Well, I am glad that Qatari govt. gifted/donated us their VIP A310. People, I know that the idea of politicians flying on taxpayer's money is sad, but when the head of state do go out internationally, they need to be in style, I think it is better that they use this A310 which has great facilities than a small business jet or 707.

Just my thought. Besides, knowing the wealth that these Gulf nations have, I am not suprised that they gifted a widebody, I don't think there are strings attached. Even if there are any, it is Qatar, our friend.

DC10 · Post by **DC10** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:17 pm

With friends like these, who needs enemies.
''Dost ghhum khhwari mein meri saee farmain ge kia
zakhhm ke bharney talak nakhhun na barrh aaen ge kia''

PK777 · Post by **PK777** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:10 pm

There has got to be a reason why the Qatari royal family would donate an aircraft to any county and why Pakistan for that matter?!

Moin · Post by **Moin** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:20 pm

Its a shame that we have to question every good gesture with ulterior motives.

CoyBoy · Post by **CoyBoy** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:11 pm

Lets hope its not painted in the lousy PIA flag tail scheme as has been mentioned in another post on teh same subject.

DC10 · Post by **DC10** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:12 pm

Moin wrote:Its a shame that we have to question every good gesture with ulterior motives.

Moin bhai, 'doodh ka jala chhachh bhi phoonk phoonk ker pita hai'.