Pilots’ association to work towards PIA revival

KARACHI: A Review Committee, comprising representatives of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) management and Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (PALPA) is being formed to work out a new and comprehensive agreement for the resolution of issues between the management and pilots, a statement said on Saturday.
The decision was taken at a meeting between PALPA President Captain Amir Hashmi and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Aviation Captain Shujaat Azeem, it said.
The special assistant made it clear that the vision of the prime minister is to revive PIA in the shortest possible time and no troublemakers who bring a bad name to the airline and Pakistan would be tolerated.
Capt Hashmi apprised Azeem of the challenges that the pilots of PIA are facing. He discussed all outstanding issues regarding PIA pilots, including the delay in disbursal of outstation allowances.
The special assistant reiterated his desire to work towards PIA employees’ welfare and directed the relevant authorities to resolve the outstanding issues.
He also assured the participants of the meeting that he would forward the issue of FED on PIA employees’ tickets to the finance minister.
PIA is already on its way to revival after the induction of 14 modern fuel-efficient aircraft that have been acquired at a record pace. Ten more aircraft, including three state-of-the-art Boeing 777, will be added to PIA by December 2015.
As a consequence of the steps taken by the top leadership, PIA has shown a positive gross operating profit in the first quarter of 2015 after a long time.
Appreciating the undeterred resolve of the special assistant to turn the airline around, PALPA has promised not to take any steps that may jeopardise the smooth running of PIA and has assured that it would make concerted efforts towards reclaiming the lost glory of the national flag carrier.