Amid ongoing efforts by the government to privatize several state-owned enterprises due to sustained financial losses, another incident has spotlighted the operational inefficiencies plaguing such entities.
An unfortunate case involving Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has emerged, underscoring severe management lapses that have tarnished its reputation and sparked public outrage.
A deeply distressing situation unfolded when PIA staff failed to load the body of a deceased passenger onto a flight from Islamabad to Skardu. The oversight led to significant distress for the family of the deceased, a 6-year-old child, who discovered upon arrival in Skardu that the body was missing from the plane. The child’s father had arranged for the body to be transported using PIA’s cargo service, relying on the airline for a sensitive and crucial service.
The resulting situation at Skardu airport was fraught, with the grieving family staging a protest that drew significant attention. The management of PIA responded by stating that the child’s body would be dispatched on the first available flight the following morning.
The incident, captured in a widely circulated video, shows the airport authorities negotiating with the bereaved family. The public response was exacerbated by the fact that the deceased child was from the Kharmang area, and the community’s expectations of a dignified transfer were deeply disappointed.
Adding to the critique, senior journalist Latif Shah publicized photos of the PIA cargo receipt and the relatives’ tickets, highlighting the grave error under the caption: “Another feat by PIA! The body was left at Islamabad airport while the relatives were flown to Skardu.” This incident not only reflects on PIA’s operational failures but also adds to the broader narrative questioning the efficacy and competency of management within Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises.
