Pakistani students studying in China have rejected Pakistan International Airline’s (PIA) 22 percent discount offer for ticket rates to China.
The development comes after PIA raised the cost of a one-way ticket to China to over Rs. 550,000, to which students reacted angrily and forced the airline to reconsider it, resulting in the 22 percent discount.
However, students have rejected the move because the ticket fares are still unaffordable for many of them due to a 500 percent price hike. They have also launched a social media campaign about it to alert the concerned authorities about the issue.
Why PIA why?? Why are you playing with the future of students. You don't have your own kids who are studying abroad. If they face the same problem like us then what will you do?? Students can't afford 550k fare.#PIALootingPakStudents #takeUsBackToChina pic.twitter.com/V9mykxOINp
— Dr.Safian Kakakhel (@SafianKakakhel) September 20, 2022
An actor and a social activist, Sehar Shinwari, said on Twitter that PIA’s Rs. 500,000 ticket rate is completely unfair for Pakistani students, as most of them will resume their studies after facing a great ordeal.
She also told the national airline to either introduce a bus service for students traveling to China via Khunjerab Pass or reduce the exorbitant ticket fares.
پاکستانی طلباء جو بڑی مشکل سے واپس چین اپنی تعلیم کو جاری رکھنے کے لئے جا رہے ہیں ان سے PIA کا 5 لاکھ روپے ٹکٹ لینا انتہائی نامناسب ہے۔ یا تو طلباء کے لئے خنجراب پاس سے بسوں کے زریعے سفر کا بندوست کریں یا پھر جہازوں کی ٹکٹ کم کریں۔ بچوں کے مستقبل پر رحم کریں 🙏@ForeignOfficePk
— Sehar Shinwari (@SeharShinwari) September 20, 2022
Another Twitter user, Ambreen, demanded an explanation from PIA for the price increase and claimed that students, who are already under financial burden, are being exploited by the inflated ticket costs. She called for an immediate reduction in ticket fares to around Rs. 100,000.
یہ آپ لوگوں نے کس چکر میں چائنہ کی ون وے ٹکٹ پانچ لاکھ تک کر دی ہے؟ جن سٹوڈنٹ کا پہلے سے اتنا مالی اور تعلیم کا نقصان ہوچکا ہے اب ان کو ٹکٹ مہنگا کرکے لوٹ رہے ہیں، کوئی شرم اور احساس ہے آپ لوگوں میں، فوری طور پر لاکھ سے نیچے کریں اپنے کرائے چائنہ جانے والوں کے لیے@Official_PIA
— Ambreen PTI (@AmbreenPTI1) September 20, 2022
Note here that PIA had announced a 10 percent reduction in airfares with an additional 22 percent discount after receiving backlash from the students. It also recently increased the luggage capacity for students from 40 kg to 80 kg of luggage.
