As a protest against the impending privatization, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) ticket booking offices will remain inaccessible to the public for a period of two hours today (Thursday), as announced by the People’s Unity of PIA.
The secretary general of the union, Rana Kashif, revealed that this strategic closure will be observed across PIA booking offices nationwide, spanning from 3 pm to 5 pm. The motive behind this move is to voice their dissent against the proposed privatization of the national carrier.
During this time frame, ticket issuance to passengers will be temporarily suspended, said Rana Kashif, underlining that this step has been taken in pursuit of their charter of demands.
In a previous development, the CBA had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to both the PIA administration and the interim government, urging them to refrain from pursuing the privatization of the national airline.
The union emphasized that if their demands are not met, significant decisions will be made on the following day, Friday.
Notably, the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP) approved the privatization of PIA during a meeting chaired by then Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar. This decision has triggered considerable unrest among the PIA workers, leading to such protests.
As a Pakistani I support privatisation as our government department didn’t do their job as per SOP
Unfortunately both PPP and PMLN destroyed the airline with over burden of employees by giving jobs to their party workers, even used the airline as their papa’s property and the result is before us.
Bloody Blackmailers. Sucked the blood out of PIA. its still not enough for them
Shutdown PIA. Its losses are higher than the total higher education budget of Pakistan. This airline is filled with Safarashis and political people and is useless for the ordinary public. Government should not run airlines. Privatise it at all costs.
Air India is best example of Privatisation, now run by Tata group, they are competing with Emirates,Eithaad,Qatar and other leading airlines… similarly airport’s should be outsourced, Now the whole world is changed, Government’s are not running business… Public Private partnership is key to success
These employees mostly hired on political backing and notorious quote system have no right to complain, as private airlines are operating far better than PIA with 70-80% less staff per aircraft. All sales and ticketing staff should be replaced by contract staff and online ticketing and related cost will be down by 80% as you don’t have to pay for this excess baggage in terns of salaries and pension.
How come these journalists dont give the full picture in the article.
Why have they not interviewed this Rana Kashif and asked him reason for their dissent against thebproposed privatization?
Privatisation is the way to go! It is not a government’s job to run businesses that too failing ones which in fact takes from the national treasury every year. No more bailouts for this subpar service. Hope the government won’t back out this time due to these bloody blackmailers!
Just as ,is it army’s job to start mega agriculture projects, industrial projects and real estate business? Who’ll defend the borders?who’ll liberate J&K? Only the “bloody civilians”
Privitazaion of major institution is much needed step for Pakistan economy
Yup privatize it.. if someone not agree nanga kar ke maro.
Deserves to be privatized. Fuck it’s employees
Privatize pia as quickly as possible.as I used to work with the organization all the higher management staff is lazy and ignorant only daily wages do the work, therefore it’s better to privatize to get godd results.. pia has been in a massive loss over the years so what’s the point not no privatize it do it before we sell ourselves to pay off pia debts….
They know they will have to work after privitisation. And kaaam karrtey mout parti hai.
More than any govt these unions and employees are responsible for current state of PIA. PIA and other entities should be privatised by all means.
It may be good then to put pakistan “For Sale”.
Those who support privitization, how you feel when you sell a portion of your house and hesitate to pay agreed sum. It is happening in case of PTCL by the way.
Privatize it as soon as possible.
PIA is a burden on people of Pakistan. It’s service is poor, its staff is rude and it’s flights are often cancelled or delayed. It is kept on for VVIPs. So better to close it down or outsourced.
Assalamu walikum
Please need a job