Senate body concerned over increase in air fares

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs and Privatisation on Tuesday expressed concern over the reports of increase in air fares by private airlines during the strike of the employees of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

The committee, which met here with Senator Saleem H Mandviwala in the chair, directed the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to conduct an inquiry into the issue and submit a report before the committee. 

It also directed the airlines to provide their flight operations data and details of airfare charged from the general public during the crisis.CCP Chairperson Vadiyya Khalil informed the committee that the commission had formally initiated an inquiry against an exorbitant increase in airfares by private airlines. The representatives of the Airblue Limited and the Shaheen International told the committee that their airlines had not increased air fares and they would submit data of their operations.