Photonews Logo Photonews logo
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Balochistan
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
    Gen V Season 2 trailer
    Videos

    Gen V Season 2 Trailer Cast, Plot, Premiere Details

    July 26, 2025 3 Min Read
    IShowSpeed Daniel La Belle race
    Videos

    IShowSpeed Beats Daniel La Belle in 40-Meter Race, Hits 41M Subscribers

    June 24, 2025 2 Min Read
    Cardi B new single Outside
    Videos

    Cardi B’s ‘Outside’ Single Sparks Buzz Over Offset and Stefon Diggs

    June 20, 2025 2 Min Read
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Reading: PIA strike: Govt insists it will not back down in face of protests
PhotoNews PakistanPhotoNews Pakistan
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Balochistan
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Photonews. All Rights Reserved.
PhotoNews Pakistan > Pakistan > PIA strike: Govt insists it will not back down in face of protests
Pakistan

PIA strike: Govt insists it will not back down in face of protests

Web Desk
By Web Desk Published February 5, 2016 6 Min Read
Share
SHARE

 The government seems in no mood to back down in the face of protesting Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accepted the resignation of PIA Chairman Nasser Jaffer. According to an official notification released by the PM Office, the aviation secretary will hold additional charge as PIA chairman for now.

Mr Sharif was chairing a meeting attended by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Senator Mushahidullah Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi.

Separately, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also vowed to proceed with structural reforms within PIA, adding that strategic partners would be brought on board to turn loss-making entities such as the airline into profitable enterprises.

Following up on its decision to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance (ESM) Act 1952, the interior ministry has authorised four officials — at the Aviation Division in Islamabad and at PIA’s offices in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar — to formally lodge complaints against PIA employees who do not fall in line.

Aviation Division Senior Joint Secretary Ahmad Latif, PIA Karachi Director (HR) Rashid Ahmad, PIA Lahore Deputy General Manager (HR) Musa Khan, and PIA Peshawar Deputy GM (HR) Mubarak Hayat have been asked to hear complaints.

Sources in the PM Office told Dawn the government was very clear in its stance: the national airline cannot be run under the present circumstances and there must be structural changes in the way its operations are managed.

When asked, one of the PM’s close aides privy to Thursday’s meeting said, “There will be no going back, come what may.” Moreover, he said, all participants of the meeting were of the view that they would not be blackmailed by the PIA unions anymore.

“The union leaders have taken extreme measures, i.e. shutting down the national flag carrier for the first time in its history. This is the worst they could have done, and in doing so have embarrassed the government to the hilt. Now, the decision lies with us and we have decided not to hold talks on their terms,” another senior government source privy to the meeting told Dawn.

Talking about the proposal of launching a new state-run airline on corporate lines, he acknowledged that the idea had been discussed at the meeting. “But it was just a suggestion to end the blackmailing by the PIA union.”

When asked whether this would be practical, he said that nothing was impossible for the government as many businessmen were willing to invest in such a venture.

It is worth nothing that Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, one of the ministers present in Thursday’s meeting, has ample experience running AirBlue.

At a press conference in Dubai, Mr Dar said that even though there were reports that the airline’s privatisation may be rolled back, “our resolve is very clear; we will do everything and anything possible to bring structural changes in these entities… with better service delivery and move towards making them profitable”.

He said that before leaving for talks in Dubai, he had held consultations with the PIA unions and had asked them to also seek legal help. He said that the current government wanted to enhance PIA’s capacity, but certain elements were trying to foster unrest by spreading disinformation about PIA employees being sent home.

“There is no such plan. There are only two options to reduce losses; either by sending people home or increasing its business, and we plan to increase its business,” the finance minister said.

Mr Dar said the unfortunate events of the past three days would be examined in detail and an inquiry had already been ordered.

He said if the government was able to bring in a strategic partner who could add another 40 aircraft, the airline’s losses would be halved

In an effort to facilitate passengers affected by the ongoing strike, PIA had made arrangements with AirBlue to accept confirmed PIA tickets from domestic and international passengers.

“PIA has finalised arrangements with AirBlue to accept confirmed passengers for flights to Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Dubai, Muscat, Jeddah and Riyadh,” a spokesperson told the media.

Arrangements have also been made with Shaheen Air, which will accept PIA confirmed tickets for domestic flights.

However, no domestic passengers were facilitated by private airlines on Thursday and those with confirmed tickets continued to be turned away by other carriers. Late on Thursday night, protesters gathered outside the terminal with their luggage to protest their maltreatment.

Read : PM accepts resignation of PIA chairman Nasir Jaffer
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

HBL Saving Made Easy
HBL Saving Made Easy

Recent Posts

NADRA e-Katchery online complaints

NADRA Launches Online Complaint Redressal via Live e-Katchery

Hamas hostage bodies Israel

Hamas Hands Over More Hostage Bodies as Israel Limits Aid to Gaza

Instagram teen safety filters

Instagram to Restrict Teen Content Using PG-13 Style Filters

Post Archives

More Popular from Photonews

Pakistan IMF Deal
Business

IMF Approves $1.2 Billion Funding for Pakistan After Successful Review

2 Min Read
Pakistan Afghanistan border clashes 2025
PakistanTop News

Pakistan Captures 19 Afghan Border Posts in Response to Taliban Attacks

3 Min Read
Diddy prison recommendation
Entertainment

Judge Recommends Diddy Serve Sentence Near NYC with Drug Rehab Program

2 Min Read
Sindh

Saudi Prince Mansour bin Saud to Acquire Controlling Stake in K-Electric

Saudi investor Prince Mansour bin Saud agreed to acquire a 53.8% stake in KES Power Limited…

October 11, 2025
Pakistan

Pakistan FBR Proposes Public Asset Declarations for Civil Servants

Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued a draft to amend the Civil Servants’ Assets Declaration…

October 8, 2025
Sports

Noman Ali’s 4 Wickets Restrict South Africa on Day 2 of Lahore Test

Pakistan's Noman Ali took 4-85 to restrict South Africa to 216-6 at stumps on Day 2…

October 13, 2025
Sindh

Karachi Court Sends Weed Cultivation Suspect to Jail on Judicial Remand

On October 8, 2025, a magisterial court in Karachi placed Salman, who is accused of cultivating…

October 8, 2025
PhotoNews Pakistan

Always Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Categories

  • World
  • Pakistan
  • Punjab
  • Sindh
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • Balochistan
  • Azad Jammu Kashmir

 

  • Top News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Offbeat
  • Blog

© 2024 Phototnews
All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?