No plan to privatize PIA: Tanveer Hussain

[Abbas Ali]

ISLAMABAD, Sep 19 (APP): Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Tanveer Hussain Shah on Monday informed the National Assembly that government does not plan to privatize the national airline.

Speaking on a Calling Attention Notice he said the incumbent chairman PIA has taken `revolutionary measures' to improve the working of the airline and enhanced flight operations by nearly 34 percent.

He said the booking offices in major cities which include Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi now remain open 24 hours to facilitate the public.

Direct flights to Urumqi, Johannesburg and other international destinations have been started which has increased flight operations by 34 percent.

The number of planes in the fleet however, he added, have not increased.

He said PIA was facing corruption, irregularities in flight reservations and other internal problems which need to be addressed.

"These are some serious issues which we will thoroughly investigate for which we need six weeks. Afterwards we will inform the house about the outcome," he said.

He said there have been many complaints about harassment of PIA airhostesses and assured the house that the defence minister will hold an inquiry.

One of the movers of the notice, Hanif Abbasi said that he should be invited to the inquiry as he has some evidence of the harassment which he wants to present before the committee.

Tanveer Hussain admitted that there were many irregularities in the booking of seats on PIA flights and said he has himself witnessed that a plane fully booked had 25 to 30 vacant seats.

He said bunglings in booking was done by some lower staff of the Airline which would also be inquired into.

He said there was no compulsion from PIA authorities on airhostesses no to cover their heads during flights.

Replying to a question from Muhammad Laeeq Khan about discrimination against a hostess Firdous Bano, Tanveer Hussain said she is currently hospitalized after suffering brain hemorrhage.

He said this is a serious matter about which the defence minister and the prime minister have been informed and will be looked into.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

[AirBlue]

they should not at all think about adding new ppl in the airline....instead allot the ppl who are workin already in the airline and reduce the ratio....but as long as sifarish upar say anay wala kaam hai...then i dont think this will be possible

[AP-BGL]

What do you people think if PIA is privatized will its fares come down or not? After seeing PTCL when it was Privatized the tariff of mobile charges were reduced immediately from Rs 2.80/- to Rs 2.12/- (In pakistan)... Will the fares of PIA be affected as well if it is privatized?

[raza]

I did not know that PIA is flying to JNB Johannesburg?!

[AirBlue]

They will be starting soon inshallah