Govt plans to ban protest, strike over PIA privatisation: sources

By INP
November 18, 2023
This picture released on February 9, 2023, shows Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft parked inside a shade in Nur Khan Engineering Complex in Islamabad. — X/@PIA
This picture released on February 9, 2023, shows Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft parked inside a shade in Nur Khan Engineering Complex in Islamabad. — X/@PIA

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker federal government has prepared a plan to avert protests over its privatization plan for the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

With the approval of the federal cabinet, a mandatory service law has been enforced on PIA workers, under which they would not be allowed to protest. According to sources, the federal cabinet has approved implementation of the Pakistan Essential Service (Maintenance) Act, 1952 in the PIA through a circular, placing restrictions on the workers against protesting and going on strike.

Sources said that union activities in PIA would also be banned to prevent possible protests against privatizing the national flag-carrier. They added that strict action would be taken against the violators of this law.

It should be noted that PIA has been facing losses for the past many years. Recently, the Pakistan State Oil had refused to supply fuel to PIA, after which the government had released funds to resume the flight operations.