Shahbaz, PIA employees’ body hold talks for three hours

JAC leader Sohail Baloch says talks remained positive; PIA reduces airfares

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PIA employees Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Wednesday held talks on the crisis in the Pakistan International Airlines.

As the Sohail Baloch-led JAC delegation met the chief minister, Shahbaz said PIA was a national institution whose protection and development was a joint responsibility. He praised the JAC for ending the strike in the national interest.

The chief minister described restoration of quality service as priority and said decisions would have to be taken by rising above liking and disliking and personal interests. He added that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be apprised of the JAC’s stance.

The meeting, which lasted for three hours, also offered Fateha for the departed souls of two PIA employees who died in Karachi. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and other officials were also present on the occasion.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Baloch said the JAC was looking to communicate its proposals for PIA’s revival to the prime minister but it was being hindered due to miscommunication on the part of mediators.

The meeting with the Punjab chief minister, he said, had fulfilled their desire of getting their word through to the highest authority through the most authentic source.

Baloch thanked Shahbaz for taking time out for the important issue, his patient and intent listening and understanding. The JAC leader said the talks were positive and he was hopeful that things would move in the best interest of PIA and its employees. He also mentioned that this could also lead to another meeting to present PIA’s revival plan.

Nasir Janjua, Safdar Anjum, Zakir Farooq, Shahid Qureshi and Mahmud Bukhari were part of the JAC delegation.Meanwhile, in a move to attract passengers, PIA has reduced fares on domestic and major international flights, including Umrah fares with immediate effect.

The PIA spokesperson said the fares on the Karachi-Islamabad-Karachi and Karachi-Lahore-Karachi routes would start from Rs7,500. The return tickets for Umrah would start from Rs54,500 for passengers from Lahore/ Islamabad and Rs44,500 for those from Karachi.