Private airlines taking undue advantage of PIA pilots strike: Rabbani

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani said on Wednesday that private airlines in the country were taking undue advantage of the strike by pilots of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Rabbani expressed his anger over private airlines raising their fares and said it was the responsibility of the country’s competition commission to stop this from taking place.

The Senate Chairman has also summoned a report from the competition commission on Monday.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said PIA was looking for alternatives over the ongoing protest strike by pilots.

Speaking about the deadlock between the pilots' association, PALPA, and PIA, Rashid said that some people had tried to adversely affect flight operations of the national flag carrier.

Also read: PIA looking for alternatives

According to latest reports, the airline management is now considering acquiring the services of Pakistan Navy pilots and pilots from private airlines since negotiations have ended in a deadlock.

Also read: PIA and PALPA standoff: CAA constitutes medical board

Over 80 flights scheduled by the Pakistani flag carrier have been cancelled and over 5,000 passengers affected since Thursday when the pilots refused to work following a dispute over conditions.