Relocating PIA: rejoinder

This refers to the letters, ‘Relocating PIA’ by G Zaman and Ali Malik Tariq (March 31) in response to my letter, ‘A new PIA’ (March 27). The writers are probably not aware that the dynamics of the aviation industry have dramatically changed in the last 15 years. Long-range, state-of-the-art aircraft have been built, which can literally travel from one end of the globe to the other without making any stopover for refuelling or technical support. So, the question of making a technical stopover in Karachi or Lahore or Islamabad by US, European and Far Eastern carriers does not arise any more.

The relocation of PIA to Islamabad makes little sense and will cost us enormously. Karachi is not only a port city but the commercial and financial hub of the country, while Islamabad is a political capital and seat of the government with limited commercial and industrial activity and a tiny population. There is no country in the world where such an insane decision has been implemented because national flag carriers create hubs in the busiest trading, commercial, industrial and financial centres of a country.

Arif Majeed

Karachi