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KARACHI: In a bid to disperse protesting Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees at Jinnah Terminal, security personnel resorted to baton-charging and using rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas shells on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for implementation of the Essential Services Act.
Two protesters died after sustaining bullet wounds. Rangers and police deny "handling protesters violently" and firing at the site of the clash.
Pakistan Airlines Cabin Crew Association President and JAC spokesman Nasrullah Khan earlier told Dawn.com that the strike would proceed as the government had not accepted the body's four-point agenda.
Explore: PIA standoff: Govt ups the ante by banning union activity
A heavy contingent of Rangers and police personnel were deployed at the site to prevent protesters from entering the cargo gate and moving onto Jinnah Avenue, DawnNews reported.
Television footage showed security personnel fire tear gas shells and water cannons at protesters as they attempted to force their way into the cargo gate.
An injured protester Inayat Raza, who sustained a bullet wound in his chest during the protest, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Raza was a member of PIA's engineering department.
Another injured person, Saleem, who also sustained bullet wounds died at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Complex (JPMC), spokesman Dr Seemi Jamali confirmed. She said at least ten injured people were admitted to JPMC, two of whom were critical.
Deputy Inspector General East Kamran Fazal said bullet casings were collected to ascertain who opened fire on the protesters. He claimed the bullets were not fired by policemen. "We instructed our personnel not to handle the protesters violently. We are trying to find out who initiated the clash," he said.
"No Rangers personnel has fired to control the protest at Jinnah Terminal today," Rangers Public Relations Officer said in an official statement.
Journalists injured
At least three other people, including a DawnNews cameraman Shafiq Dilshad, were injured during the protest as security officials also dispersed journalists and media personnel covering the incident. Dilshad's condition is said to be stable.
An Express News cameraman Agha Rafiq was also injured in the clash, while a business reporter of The Express Tribune was baton-charged.
Read: The big debate: to sell or not to sell PIA
PIA employee's four-point agenda:
- Government should immediately take back the bill passed on January 21 converting the national flag carrier into a public limited company.
- PIA's employees be provided a chance to reform the airline. If the employees fail to do so, the government will have the freedom to do whatever it finds suitable.
- Privatisation, in any form, whether it is in form of a strategic partner or selling of 36 per cent or 1pc of the organisation's shares, is not acceptable to the employees.
- Government should immediately review the aviation policy and form a committee for this purpose comprising members from PIA employees' JAC along with PIA experts Khursheed Anwar, Kamran Hasan and Salahuddin.
PIA spokesperson Daniyal Gilani told DawnNews that PIA management had asked protesting employees to come to the negotiating table but the union did not pay heed. He said the government was taking action in accordance with the law to deal with the situation, and that flight operations had not been affected.
Protests by PIA employees also erupted in Multan and Peshawar in solidarity with the treatment meted out to their colleagues in Karachi.
Imran Khan announces countrywide protests on Feb 6
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday afternoon said his party will hold country-wide protests against the privatisation of PIA and the killing of two protesting employees outside the Karachi airport.
Khan criticised the government for what he called "expansive" development projects such as the Orange Line, and for not slashing oil and diesel prices in line with the international price slump.
Flight operations 'continue as scheduled'
Civil Aviation officials earlier said that flight operations would continue "as scheduled", but passengers are advised to call the airport ahead of time and confirm the status of their flights.
As the clash between protesting PIA employees and law enforcement personnel continues, the status of a number of flights at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport remains unclear.
While the JAC of PIA employees early on Monday said workers would strike starting 7am on Tuesday, flight data at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport (JIA), Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) and Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIA) showed all PIA flights from 7am-9am have departed, and that only two flights ─ PK-313 (Lahore to Karachi) and PK-314 (Karachi to Lahore) ─ were cancelled. A total of 10 PIA flights departed on time from all three airports between 7am-9am.
Flight operations at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport (JIA), Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) and Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIA) are running and are expected to continue as scheduled, Civil Aviation officials had said.
"All the flights this morning left on time," a JIA official said.
An official at BBIA said flight operations were continuing as scheduled and would not be affected even later in the day. Television footage showed a heavy contingent of police deployed at BBIA for added security.
An official at AlIA said check-in was open for flights and "all flights so far had run on time".
Captain Sohail Baloch, convener of the PIA employees committee, had earlier told reporters that a four-point agenda had been presented to the government by the body. Failure on part of the government to fulfill these demands, he said, would result in suspension of flight operations.
Related: PIA privatisation postponed for six months
Nawaz calls for implementation of Essential Services Act
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a high-level meeting on Tuesday instructed implementation of the Essential Services Act.
National institutions will not be used for political motives, he said, adding that steps are being taken to turn the national flag carrier into a profitable organisation.
He advised the interior ministry to deal with major strikes regarding the issue and said PIA operations must not come to a halt.
Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azim attended the meeting.
Nawaz invokes Essential Services Act
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday enforced the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act 1952 for six months, barring protesting members of the Pakistan International Airlines from participating in any union activity.
The law essentially restricts union activity in state-administered sectors, including railways, postal services, telephone and affiliated services, and airports and seaports.
Earlier on Friday, PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan had announced that the government had postponed the privatisation of the national flag carrier for six months and requested the protesting workers to end their strike.
Mushahidullah had asked the joint action committee of PIA employees to withdraw its decision of the strike and resume flight operations, otherwise the government would use its authority and impose the Essential Services Act, if PIA employees did not call off their strike.
The Act was also invoked by the government in January 2013 during the doctors' strike for better wages and regularisation, resulting in the sacking of young doctors for participating in a strike.
Related: PIA standoff: Govt ups the ante by banning union activity
'Enemies of PIA and Pakistan'
Speaking to reporters after the enforcement of the Act, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid on Monday said those continuing the strike would be treated as enemies of PIA and Pakistan and they will end up losing their jobs.”
Rashid said the government had made alternate arrangements of pilots and engineering staff to ensure that operations continue smoothly. He said PM Nawaz had made clear that no PIA employee would be laid off during privatisation and reiterated that the government would not tolerate strikes.
During a pilots' strike last year PIA Chairman Nasser Jaffer had formulated a ‘plan B’ to run the flight operations without interruption under which new pilots were to be inducted on contract basis while Pakistan Navy’s aviators were to be called in for assistance.
Related: Plan B: PIA will call navy aviators to run flight operation
Privatisation of PIA
The National Assembly on January 21 witnessed the passage of six bills, including one to convert the national flag carrier into a public limited company.
Under the bill, Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) is to be converted into a public limited company as Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL).
PIACL will get all the assets, liabilities, duties and obligations of PIAC. Similarly, PIACL would be entitled to the benefit of all notifications, licences, permissions, sanctions, authorisations, concessions, decrees, international air service authorisations, agreements, orders and benefits issued or granted in favour of PIAC.
Related: PIA privatisation bill passed amid opposition uproar
─ Additional reporting by Irfan Haider.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (153) Closed
Feb 02, 2016 09:40am
Interesting.
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Feb 02, 2016 10:19am
it appears like PIA has so much extra staff that even if half of its employees go on strike, still it will not have any impact on its flight operation.
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Feb 02, 2016 10:22am
Please sell PIA or close this airline. Only PIA employee travel with this airline.
Worst services, if you know what I mean.
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Feb 02, 2016 10:29am
PIA needs better management whether its private or public. If any employee don't obey the rules and going to strike; he should be fired immediately.
My brother was scheduled to fly in February 2011 from Lahore to New York but suddenly Pilots stopped operating and he was left nowhere.
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Feb 02, 2016 10:43am
I am at islamabad airport and except for heavy presence of police, all the processes including getfing the boarding pass went very smoothly... i dont see any signs of any protests here and its 10 30.
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Feb 02, 2016 10:53am
Let PIA close down and up a new airline as a separate legal entity. PIA can sell it a assets, rights abs slots to the new airline. The new airline can selectively recruit from PIA.
Then the government and employees of PIA can sort out their problems while the new airline operates normally and without the baggage of its past.
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Feb 02, 2016 10:56am
Pakistan Airlines Cabin Crew Union's Four Points: 1. No privatization. 2. No privatization. 3. No privatization. 4. No privatization.
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Feb 02, 2016 11:07am
The striking employees not only sacked but also prosecuted for causing loss to national exchequer and jailed. They have looted and plundered PIA for years and now is the time to pay back. I have not see any organization where from top to bottom is involved in bringing the organization down.
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Feb 02, 2016 11:26am
Govt is right to privatize. It should not invest taxpayers' money any more in this sick unit. Fewer strikers are crying for their own interests. These people converted 'national asset' into 'national liability'.
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Feb 02, 2016 12:10pm
@ALI
Bhai what you said in 3lines would take billions to implement practically.
The safest way here is a transparent audit. Once you start audit people will start taking early retirements. These are the reasons PIA is sinking itself.
All the old staff should be retired and replaced with young contract staff without political hiring.
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Feb 02, 2016 12:13pm
Prime example of why we have leaders like the ones we have. Because the public if of the same mindset. No work and free pay.
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Feb 02, 2016 12:32pm
Fire all protesting employees and register criminal cases against them and this will be the start of the improvement of PIA. Turn it into a corporation, appoint well reputed audit firms and consultants, make their recommendations binding, get a foreign CEO along with professional management and see the difference.
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Feb 02, 2016 12:38pm
Greediness of the self righteous politicians are responsible for all of these ills. If privatization is the solution to every corrupt institution then first of all, we people of Pakistan should move nationally to privatize the governance. How can a don-king exist without his lower echelon dons, after allowing them to be apprehended and prosecuted?
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Feb 02, 2016 12:43pm
Thanks to large scale recruitment of incompetent employees (largely by PPP govts.), PIA has lost efficiency and standing once it had.
Off course not all employees are incompetent.
Its just natural that the incompetent employees will fight for continuing their 'mufta' at nation's cost.
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Feb 02, 2016 12:46pm
I have a question for the govt, why is it that there personal Airlines are making profits & PIA is making huge losses ? why is it that your personal steel business is growing many fold while
Pakistan Steel is making huge losses ?
I mean at least PS should have improved under PMLN as they have steel experience ...... the experienced team is failing on all fronts... whether it is law & order, jobs, electricity, gas, justice, police reforms, huge debt... ?
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Feb 02, 2016 12:47pm
If these striking employees continue the strike, who pay will the enormous big amount of Rs: 288 Billion debt. It was the duty of all employees to work and bring the Airlines in profit. If not, they should be terminated and Airport Passes should be cancelled at once and stop them to enter the Airports. The big party political stalwarts are at pain and speaking in favour of those striking employees. These stalwarts should answer about the Rs: 288 Billion debt.
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Feb 02, 2016 12:50pm
No body is against privatization of loss making institutions but the way they are doing it .... why cant the experienced team & genius PM turn these institutions around..? mere ADS in news papers wont convince us on your performance .... which till now is pathetic...
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Feb 02, 2016 12:51pm
This ineligible Govt should bring reforms in PIA, this is not the solution. they should change the Management and should make law stringent, should combat corruption from department. rather than taking States property privatized.
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Feb 02, 2016 12:53pm
As a Pakistani, I have never or would never like to travel through PIA. It's the worst institution as ever. It must be closed immediately or completely revamped as suggested by Great Asad Umar, Business Guru.
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Feb 02, 2016 12:54pm
Privitisation is not the solution
Govt should take care of its employees
Policies should be reformed
EMployees are fighting for their bread and butter
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Feb 02, 2016 01:03pm
I've never seen a regressive nation like us. These employees want to stick like leeches to the decadent structure but won't let it go. They want every drop of blood and every inch of flesh of PIA. They are the obstacle in the way of progress.
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Feb 02, 2016 01:09pm
PIA, PSM, Wapda...all are burden on National Kitty...they all known as their poorest performance, surplus employees & severe mismanagement...must be privatised sooner than later...!!!
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Feb 02, 2016 01:09pm
Oh, I though Karachi is having no water, but look at the water cannons, wastage of a precious resource.
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Feb 02, 2016 01:15pm
This lot who have been sucking the life-blood from this airline, have the audacity to 'demand' that privation be cancelled? It only confirms most of them are incompetent political appointees, and have no talent or skill to contribute to operating an efficient airline! They just want a paycheck at tax-payer expense!
Fire the entire lot and hire new merit-based staff.
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Feb 02, 2016 01:16pm
Half the flights carry free-loaders or PIA employees who are not full fare-paying passengers, that's why they don't want the airline to go private! Rest are parliamentarians and their families. How can this company generate any profit like this??
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Feb 02, 2016 01:19pm
This is the failure of Government. They can not run any institution smoothly. PIA is in loss due to political hiring. How others private airlines are working smoothly and earning good profit?
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Feb 02, 2016 01:38pm
All the leading Gulf airlines are owned by their respective governments and they are doing profitable business besides providing work class services to the travelers. It is failure of successive governments of Pakistan PIA employees cannot be blamed alone.
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Feb 02, 2016 01:39pm
No violence please. This will set the airline 30 years back. Resolve through talk.
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Feb 02, 2016 01:41pm
Remove hand of politics and hand to professionals. See how PIA takes off.
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Feb 02, 2016 01:41pm
I don't support Govt. on its actions but this all mess is created by a no. of incompetent employees, who are a product of our Siyasi culture, and got jobs on Safarish, as they will no longer enjoy non-deserving salaries and perks after privatization. This happens where the interest of hand-picked political appointments becomes more important than the interest of the company. PIA does need reforms and Privatization may not be the perfect solution, but there are no more choices left due to ineffectiveness/ inefficiencies of non-deserving employees who were rewarded for there political affiliations during last 3 decades. The best SOLUTION is that Govt. close down PIA operations, and relaunch another airline as a different legal entity, and rehire all competent/capable employees. The re-establishment of airspace rights, sector agreements and route contracts will be a tough task, but it is beneficial considering the long-term benefits.
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Feb 02, 2016 01:44pm
Brutality of so called democratic government. Shameless I must say
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Feb 02, 2016 01:46pm
A quote from Dawn article of 26 March, 2014: "---once the pride of the nation but now, known more as a money-bleeding, scorn-inducing white elephant, apparently destined to fade out from the skies."
PIA has an employee per plane ratio of 780 employees per plane with a fleet of 42 planes, compared for example to Turkish Airlines with 236 planes at 81 employees per plane. It is definitely an eye opener for the simple judgement about the extent of in-sensibilities in its operation. This is what its Union wants not only to maintain, but also aggravate with its fast dwindling fleet.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:03pm
Now or never. We need to clean the mess up in PIA and should retain only the competent employees. Go go privatization...No more illiterate saeen, chaudhry, gulabo, chambeli in the staff
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Feb 02, 2016 02:05pm
I am amazed to see that everyone here is only blaming the employees of PIA. For all the corruption/mismanagement in PIA all the previous and current govts are also responsible. Do we have any anger for our rulers or is it only for employees?
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Feb 02, 2016 02:05pm
Secondly, shooting employees to cater protest situation, just shows that how bad is Govt at management skills itself.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:12pm
@Abdul Hameed
Even governments in the middle east are private.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:15pm
The people asking for privatization will soon realise that cost of air travel will increase substantially in Pakistan.Like DELHI AIRPORT PRIVATIZATION Costs average flyer 3000 to 400 RUPEES more every flight.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:16pm
Pakistan is a democracy, how can they government say protests are not acceptable ?
Protest is the right of each and every citizen of the country and this right is guaranteed by the law. Govt must be held accountable for killing of the unarmed protester!
There is nothing wrong with privatization, I fully support it but word is the government is preferring a particular Arab buying party and selling them at an unusually low rate.
Yes proceed with privatization, but fairly not due to personal affiliations of Sharif family with Arab royals.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:18pm
everywhere in the world airline employee do protest and shut down for their demands but no where in the world violent forces are used by the state
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Feb 02, 2016 02:18pm
@M.Saeed
You are very right....the government should be privatized, but in reality it already has been...or decades!
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Feb 02, 2016 02:27pm
Arrest and fire all the strikers!
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Feb 02, 2016 02:30pm
Excellent... no more political mafia, no more lal masjid .... at least for this ill say,
NS Zindabad,
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Feb 02, 2016 02:32pm
Terminate all those employees of PIA who are on strike.. and PIA will make profit for sure...
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Feb 02, 2016 02:33pm
Anarchists and their political supporters need to be dealt with iron hand. It's conspiracy against Pakistan development agenda.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:35pm
Most of employee in PIA are corrupt, I would say they must privatise it.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:38pm
Third class airline with more staff than Great Emirates.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:39pm
@aamir - What is of 'interest' in that?
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Feb 02, 2016 02:40pm
Stop blaming government for every bad deed, it has become habit/
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Feb 02, 2016 02:40pm
@SohailAnwar GreatEmirates, we will make our GreatPakistan.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:46pm
The proposed PIA JAC's four-point agenda is absolutely not acceptable in its entirety. PIA management should dismiss anyone preventing or objecting to the proposed reforms which are essential for making PIA profitable again.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:50pm
Corruption and incompetence cannot be covered up with privatization. If this formula is to work then, even the state functions must be privatized as state departments are as inefficient as PIA is
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Feb 02, 2016 02:51pm
Getting Policing powers means behave like police. Very sad and tragic especially beating women.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:56pm
@Sarfaraz The looters are not the employees; they are the people who get their relatives and cronies employed in PIA at fat salaries; One such 'manager' related to the powerful is reported to have been appointed at over 1.1 million salary plus fantastic perks! There are others like him. What do such 'managers' manage if the PIA is not delivering? They are also reported to have used the airline as a personal airline. It is unfair for the rulers to loot and ruin the national carrier and then blame the employees for it.
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Feb 02, 2016 02:59pm
@Hussain PPP during Shaheed BB government and Zaradari are responsible for many such damages to national assets.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:01pm
The only rightful conclusion is to privatize the assets causing burden on national exchequer, unfortunately state is not capable of handling national assets and making them profitable..
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Feb 02, 2016 03:02pm
PIA is THE WORST airline I have ever flew with - PERIOD!!!!
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Feb 02, 2016 03:03pm
I am no supporter of PMLN but PIA need to be sorted. enough is enough
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Feb 02, 2016 03:03pm
Sad incident but the government should press ahead with its plan to privatize the airline that is costing this poor nation too much . If government can not privatize it please close it down.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:04pm
PIA needs professional management team to run the national airline of strategic importance for the country, issue is with the past & present governments for making such a mess of the airline by recruiting thousands of PPPians & PMLNians and giving top slots to their dear ones to exploit and drain all possible resources. In past what happened to privatization of PTCL & KESC and we all know what was the end result and the looser was poor people of Pakistan and winners were the elite class at the helm of affairs & the buyers and both the buyers were state owned companies of UAE. In order to be realistic about the performances of all the governments of past & present we must out source the running of government to a third party so as to get better results for the common people in Pakistan.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:05pm
All the leaders in what ever attire, are ruling this country as "Royal Kings" and nothing else. Pakistan is now almost 69 year old and still living on a stroller and a begging bowl ! PSM & PIA sale will make the rulers more richer and they have plan to compete with Bill Gates & Mittal of India , financially in quick time by just a stroke of pen.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:07pm
They are not protesting for the fear of loosing their jobs but because their corruption and malpractices will come to an end.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:08pm
The politically influenced recruited needs to be kicked out. They're eating away PIA and need to be operated out. Privatization is not the solution, Aijaz Haroon was able to get PIA to make Rs.720 million profit in 2010. Get Aijaz Haroon back and kick out the excess baggage and hire professional people totally on merit. I'm sure PIA can get back on its feet if the right decisions are made without any political intrusions.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:08pm
@ASIF Khan Why this bread and butter on cost of my money? Fact is that people like you have ruined Pakistan and fact is that PIA is hugely over staffed and will not turn loss into profit until it is privatized. It is not a big science to understand that business is not a welfare program
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Feb 02, 2016 03:11pm
Like some other institutions the major problem with PIA is over staffing and nepotism. Our rulers never think twice while getting politically motivated persons recruited.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:12pm
Fire all the current employees!
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Feb 02, 2016 03:13pm
Majority of PIA staff is "free loader"
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Feb 02, 2016 03:16pm
Such a sad incident. Instead of putting a blanket blame on all PIA employees, govt. should start by nullifying all political appointments in the institution for the last 20-25 years by various governments. Most of these are non-skilled and a burden.
Govt. shouldn't ridicule the skilled PIA staff who are there on merit. The skilled staff should be protected as if they were all corrupt, you wouldn't have any flight operations in the country. For all this period, talented and trained PIA staff (pilots, engineers, etc.) have opted to join foreign airlines and contributed to their incline in the last couple of decades. Most Gulf airlines are full of them which is proof that problem is not with the employees (skilled), rather with governments and management.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:20pm
Govt. representatives are the largest client of the organisations. I hope they pay for all their travel, and are not discounted with free travel as PIA is nationalised. Does PM fund/govt. accommodates for expenses of chartering a PIA plane for traveling around the world? Is this audited? This also contributes to PIA's losses.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:20pm
Doing the right thing...the wrong way. Classic Nawaz Sharif PML-N style, while PPP-Z played it safe it never ventured to do anything right.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:23pm
PIA staff will not work nor they will let anybody else work. What a pathetic situation, first they finished once world's highest ranked airline, now they are not letting anyone to restore it.
This PIA is no more pride for the country and nation instead it have become a sigma of a downfall of the nation.
Government shouldn't pull back any decision I think you will not find a simple sympathizer other than the family member of those who are working in PIA. The loss of life is tragic but there stand is not for the good cause instead it's for their own vested interest.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:24pm
The shooter is definitely one of the LEAs. The shell case belongs to an AK-47. Police carry 100% AK-47s, whereas the Rangers carry both G-3 and AK-47.
It is highly unlikely, that someone from the MOB will be able to sneak in an AK-47 in the demonstration, a pistol maybe, but not an AK-47.
Furthermore, give the fact that Rangers have strict orders to not fire but withdraw, the chances are that the shots were fired by the police, maybe accidentally even.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:28pm
even malaysia airline had to be turned private last year..its all over world..they fired 6000 workers in malaysia..in pia gov saying will not fire anyone..why still strike then?..
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Feb 02, 2016 03:28pm
This is PPP sponsored protest only in Karachi where Police is in their control. They will not arrent anyone and provoke violence to safeguard their own people in PIA.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:28pm
With just around 20 working aircrafts, PIA is having tens of thousand of employees. This is the state of affairs of almost each govt entity. About time we phase out unnecessary "non working" force.
And about the employee who got killed, RIP....
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Feb 02, 2016 03:32pm
Privatization will turn the airline around and will make it profitable and sustainable, employees don't want this. Well people of Pakistan own the airline and they want to stop feeding it and want to sell their shares...simple...
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Feb 02, 2016 03:36pm
PPP is silently playing the game behind. Majority employees in PIA are PPP workers!
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Feb 02, 2016 03:36pm
Govt is privatising PIA by saying it a burden on tax payer money and at the same time financing Metro/Orange train projects which are causing lots of money to exchequer....govt double standard
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Feb 02, 2016 03:43pm
Privatize it for Betterment!!
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Feb 02, 2016 03:45pm
True failure of government.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:45pm
All those who are speaking in favour of PIA must know, that PIA is an absolute disgrace for Pakistanis when it lands on foreign airports especially when an old ATR lands in the middle of an airport which is nearly full with jets such as latest 787s and A380s. Its staff including pilots have been caught smuggling things in the past. It has no quality or quantity left. Why are we being emotional to save PIA? I am not ready to pay my tax money to an institute that absolutely plunders and loots on it. It might have been a great airline in the past but reality is that it is worst airline if you look at it today. Ask every person who lives in Gulf and frequently travels to Pakistan.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:47pm
What are these people protesting - the right not to work ?
I think the time has come to fire all the PIA employees, shut the airline down completely by declaring bankruptcy and then restarting it again. IT will cost a lot less than the 200+ billions owed by PIA.
Remember there is no compensation as the creditors have first right over any funds raised from selling off assets.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:48pm
NO sympathies for PIA staff have seen how they exploit PIA ...
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Feb 02, 2016 03:53pm
@oregata In morning it seemed it was sort of interesting; but it has now become tragic and sad for sure.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:54pm
Privatize PIA before further killing. Follow the procedure adopted by Karachi Shipyard management in 1979. Fire all striking element at once. Then handover the organization to new organizer. Accept those employee application who deserve and apologies and ready to work with new terms and conditions.
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Feb 02, 2016 03:57pm
privatize it or not.... both kind of existence for any airline are to be seen around in other countries... both are giving excellent services.
here the problem with privatization oozes from ruling party as either one of Govt's strong NA member or family members OR one from opposition will steal this airline through new ways of corrupt money and later make lots of money.... govt will sell it on peanut prices.... why don they tender it internationally ?
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Feb 02, 2016 04:01pm
There were probably more "PIA employees" that showed up to protest; than they normally do for work. Privatisation obviously is the answer. Looking at the absentee rate, its astonishing that, Almost 2/3 of the employees don't bother to show for work and yet the Airline operates, that simply means and the numbers prove it, that PIA has more employees than needed and a correction is long overdue.
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Feb 02, 2016 04:03pm
Total mishandling of protests. The airport and surrounding area should have been sealed from the protesters. They should have been left to protest to their hearts content and those who didn't turn up for work fired. This was a Golden opportunity to cut down the size of the employees.
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Feb 02, 2016 04:07pm
Everyone is commenting on corrupt practices and political appointments. With all the payload accounted for, it constitutes only 17% of its over all revenue. The govt should bailout PIA by public money (Already on a borrowing spree). No one will buy the Airline with current debt. Once bailed out, it could be bought by any Middle Eastern Group with govt. cronies keeping a private equity. Without debt, one of the local private Airline owner, who is already minting money in the energy sector, would readily buy 26% of the equity as stated. To become super rich it wouldn't be a white collar crime for the govt. cronies to buy a national asset when its debt been paid off by public money.would it?
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Feb 02, 2016 04:09pm
PIA and its employees has brought shame on the country time and again. Even the cabin crew is involved in smuggling and contraband items, leave alone their pathetic customer services. Each employee thinks its their birth right to use and abuse their position at every point you come across.
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Feb 02, 2016 04:24pm
There is no excuse, these 'employees' have to fall in line. I despise PMLN & its kingdom, however, its absolutely right that PIA has to be privatised. I hope PTI will support this.
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Feb 02, 2016 04:30pm
Okay. Demand is reasonable. Give them one year to turnaround the airline. Which means, it should achieve break even.
If it doesn't, then privatize it.
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Feb 02, 2016 04:34pm
In a semi-democratic country like Pakistan
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Feb 02, 2016 04:43pm
There have been 4 or 5 different governments during last few decades. But PIA has never come out of its problems. There is some very fundamental reason which is causing all the problems .Is it bad management, corruption , political interference ?
PIA employees also needs to be honest in their evaluation of the situation which they are facing now.May it is actually because of their own burden which is taking the ship down.Better commercial sense should prevail.
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Feb 02, 2016 04:45pm
I took My Voluntary Golden Handshake from PIA because I saw the Downfall of the Great Airline when Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Shahid Islam were at the Helm of Affaira
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Feb 02, 2016 04:48pm
I am neither with PM nor with PIA Union but want an answer to my simple question as to how PIA will be profit making entity if it is privatized which PM is inclined to do? PIA is incurring losses for so many years and the government cannot pocket so huge loss each year so it is decided to privatize it which is not a bad idea. The private owner is not going to pocket loss for sure which means that the airline can make profit but due to mismanagement and too much govt interference it is running into losses. I suggest that almost half of the employees be terminated and the rest be told that in six months time they should work with full zeal and zest so that the airline earns profit and the employees will be given some cash money as reward but if there is loss then they will be penalized. To my understanding the airline will not ne losing at the present rate. Try the litmus test. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi-former-diplomat@hotmail.com / Cell 66229897
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Feb 02, 2016 04:50pm
2 Dead? Give me a break! Where are we headed to? Now people cant even ask for their rights!
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Feb 02, 2016 04:54pm
Simple common sense lacks with us to be honest. Govt is saying that all PIA flights are operating on schedule except 2 cancellations which is quite acceptable but the ground reality is altogether different. It is 1636 in Pakistan and PIA is showing its flight schedule for the period 0700 to 0900 hours means no flight is scheduled since then? Who is befooling and whom? Will someone enlighten me? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / Cell +965-66229897 / zaidi-former-diplomat@hotmail.com
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Feb 02, 2016 04:54pm
@Daanish
According to your logic, Pakistan should also be sold. If you are not healthy, commit suicide. Don’t you see that privatization means that PIA will be run for profits only? PIA is a national airline and should have other objectives as well.
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Feb 02, 2016 04:56pm
People got killed...this is not acceptable!!!
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Feb 02, 2016 04:59pm
@Daanish ...dear if you get jobless...then i will ask you that what are you feeling now??
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Feb 02, 2016 05:00pm
Privatization or no privatization... It must have been debated at the Parliament. Why govt was shying away from it? NS Govt is master in creating monsters out of routine issues because of their cruel intentions and dictatorial mindset. What to expect from such govt who believe in disguise and deceiving in everything they do.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:02pm
The nation would had supported these protesters if only they had protested when these employees themselves were looting the tax payers money.
The employees of this organization deserve this very treatment.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:09pm
Ghosts fired bullets that killed two innocent persons for using their right to protest in a so called democratic government. Our rulers have no fear of God. Two precious lives are lost and no one is responsible and will never be held responsible as well.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:14pm
Invoking essential services act is a bad initiative. Killing protesters is the worst start.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:14pm
The army should be called to take over the Airport and terminal, so that the flight operation should continue without any operation. The protesting employees would try to half all activities at the Airports in their bid to press the authorities to accept their demands. If this happened and the Airport is closed, it will really give a wrong message to the world and will tarnish the image of the country as a whole.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:16pm
Now can we say this is democracy....????? you might not agree with these protests but killing the protesting employees is shameless ...... these thugs of PMLN & PPP are worst dictators when its there personal interest is challenged .....
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Feb 02, 2016 05:18pm
Pia should be semi privatized as it is always in debt and requires bail off. But govt should get nothing out of privatization.
Privatization should be done, more planes bought, more routes opened. This way all extra useful staff should be employed more effeciently. All useless staff should be laid off or trained for other roles in the new airport.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:18pm
@Shaikh Mohommad No business should have any other objective than to be a lean mean money making machine. Just because it is government run, why should we allow it be inefficient, loss making and full of "friends and relatives"?.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:23pm
@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi dear I think you need to study more on privatization and its curse. Privatization doesn't mean that everything will be fixed with a motion of magic stick. The classic example of privatization failure is K-electric. Now the bills of electricity come regularly on time but not the electricity. I think rather than privatizing PIA by force it is better to put some technocrats on key posts of management. Secondly, the exemption or discounts to VIPs especially the MPAs and MNAs should immediately be revoked. Third, the cost per flight should be reduced currently we have 389 staff per flight which is highest in the world. Fourth, the salaries expenses should be cut especially the management staff is getting lion's share in terms of salaries and perks. These are few measures I proposed, a detailed analysis can provide far better measures to cope this issue which has already taken two precious lives.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:24pm
They have destroyed the PIA, they cant make it better. Do it privatize.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:24pm
Isn't it the incompetence of these successive govt's of PMLN & PPP, who are responsible for this mess in which all these state institutions are ????? now they want to buy these institutions like peanuts ...... what a shame....
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Feb 02, 2016 05:25pm
It doesn't take a rocket scientist, but just a little grey matter to see the truth!
If the flight operations are going normally, despite these striking workers, that only means they are dead-wood, free-loaders or in the airline parlance 'excess baggage' (pun intended). Off load them and PIA will return to profitability saving millions in unnecessary salaries being paid to those who actually do no work.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:27pm
Everyday there is something for Pakistan sometimes its terrorist sometimes its our own people killing each other. No day is passed without bringing shame to Pakistan
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Feb 02, 2016 05:36pm
Its really sad that people got killed in this --- may they rest in peace.
PIA downfall is not entirely to blame on excess staff. Staff Per aircraft ratio is no doubt the highest in world, but PIA staff is not paid the best compared to other airlines used for per staff comparison.
Revenue to staff cost ratios : emirates 14%, British airways 21 % and PIA 25%. Though its still higher than others its not the only/main reason for PIA fall.
I think the main losses are caused by top guys in major procurment and service agreements. Unless this corruption is routed out cutting down staff would not help.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:36pm
Sell every single asset of Pakistan and leave & enjoy comfort life in Dubai and London.
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Feb 02, 2016 05:43pm
@Zak...few months ago, didn't you say its the best airliner in the whole world???
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Feb 02, 2016 06:04pm
@Khi92 r u sure that Assd Umer is asking for its privatisation? In public he is advocating its contrary for mere politics .
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Feb 02, 2016 06:09pm
This only happens in democracy in Pakistan ! People including women are brutally beaten and humiliated .
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Feb 02, 2016 06:13pm
The service of Pia is worst thant their protest
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Feb 02, 2016 06:16pm
sell it to the Chinese......
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Feb 02, 2016 06:24pm
There second and third point is contradictory. Sell it overnight and let them protest.
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Feb 02, 2016 06:31pm
The most dysfunctional Airline from ground staff to cabin crew, unfortunately is national flag carier.
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Feb 02, 2016 06:32pm
Nothing will happen for the good of the nation.This is the place where things only get worse.
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Feb 02, 2016 06:35pm
@Truth: PIA staff are the worst, go to a booking center or on a flight. Fire them all.
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Feb 02, 2016 06:37pm
@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi .its not the job to run companies.No party is clean.so once they come to power they hire people which are a birden for pia.so N.sharif for first time in life is doing something good.
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Feb 02, 2016 06:45pm
@Jalbani Baloch Sir if you call army every time for the incompetence of socio-political institutions than why not impose a hard-core martial law which I guess is better for the country than such a blue-tactics of soft core martial law.
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Feb 02, 2016 06:52pm
Fire all who goes on strike,,,, This is excellent opportunity to get rid of these politically hired people who have looted millions from the pockets of Pakistanis since decades,....
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Feb 02, 2016 07:03pm
PIA union should publish their business analysis to show how they can bring PIA back in green, given the current competitive siutation (Gulf airlines have newere fuel efficent fleet, cheaper maintaince costs, and cheaper fuel costs and a big budget for ads/discounts and computer systems)
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Feb 02, 2016 07:04pm
"PIA's employees be provided a chance to reform the airline" - what a joke. Let them clarify how they will reform the loss making unit.
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Feb 02, 2016 07:06pm
PIA Employment have lost moral ground by making such an violent agitation which have taken two lives , and now only Union leaders will cash the corpses of the deceased.
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Feb 02, 2016 07:11pm
Hiring of extra illegal and lazy employees through source and force led to this stage and ultimately all the employees have to bear the loss...
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Feb 02, 2016 07:40pm
Somebody wants to pocket lots of money!
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Feb 02, 2016 07:44pm
Privatization always trumps government owned as most of the hiring in government owned institutions are done on political affiliation basis whereas in privately owned institutions most of the hiring is based on merit. So it's no brainer!
So PIA is an over bloated and incompetent institution (as all government owned institutions usually are), where most of the hiring is done on political basis instead of merit so what else one can expect.
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Feb 02, 2016 07:59pm
Privatization under the PMLN (Nawaz Sharif) is very questionable to say the least!!
I have no issues if the process would be transparent, however, it is very unlikely with the current status quo.....so STRIKE!!
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Feb 02, 2016 08:33pm
Privatization may take some time, close down PIA at once and save money.
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Feb 02, 2016 08:34pm
Imran khan criticize govt whenever he can - this time over common sense measures like privatization.
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Feb 02, 2016 08:39pm
Privatize immediately, PIA, Pak Steel, Railway, WAPDA, Water Board Karachi to partially foreign bidders like K-Electric, Habib Bank etc. See the result of these privatized Organizations, they are well organized, profitable, pumping huge amount in Pakistan economy as Taxes. Band all labor union activities at once in all above organizations.
Delay in one day mean weakness of central and provincial govt.
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Feb 02, 2016 08:44pm
PIA management is responsible..Pull them out and punish them.
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Feb 02, 2016 09:13pm
PIA is once more in limelight with a great history that is thought provoking. In 70's when it was doing great with Air Marshal Nur khan approaches since mid 60's PIA got it Tufail Abbas with only agenda for better wages but he was tourchered along with his friends and then JI walla founded own group of employees.However this great industrial unit via air produced great service and earning which is now on the anvil for privatization. The national assets selling out is not a good omen with Pakistani and similarly PIA will become private owners gold egg laying with employees having no say...
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Feb 02, 2016 10:03pm
This is sad that Imran Khan is trying to take political advantage of current situation, even if it is in the best interest of the country to privatize PIA. We cant pay PIA from our own pockets and let their employees enjoy their perks without adding any value. British Airways was privatized in 1987, so lets learn from developed countries.
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Feb 02, 2016 10:46pm
I am sure the firing was done by one of the PIA employees to spur an outbreak like this.
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Feb 02, 2016 11:28pm
Unions do strike all over the city but nowhere in the civilised world they are met with such brutal violence and killings.
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Feb 02, 2016 11:31pm
These corrupt employees should be Removed. There demands are useless. How come they Change PIA in few months who have taken years ti destroy it. Govt should go ahead with privitization.
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Feb 02, 2016 11:39pm
The government should establish its writ and take drastic actions to reform PIA or get rid of this moribund while elephant. The dirty politics and unions are one of its key evils. Lets get rid of them.
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Feb 02, 2016 11:48pm
Shame on these protesters for disrupting normal life for their selfish needs.
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Feb 03, 2016 03:14am
More than a sad starting
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Feb 03, 2016 03:36am
Ten years been going in and out of Lahore, never used PIA!
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Feb 03, 2016 03:44am
govt should crush the people who is hurdle in privatize the PIA, only way to save PIA is privatize to PIA.
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Feb 03, 2016 06:01am
It seems our people are more sensible than our electronic media which tries to promote every miscreant against the govt and Pakistan....People understand the vested interest of the PIA employees who are mostly a burden on national exchequer.
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Feb 03, 2016 06:03am
Let the airline run itself into ground and stop pumping in tax payers money then we will see what these employees have to say.
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Feb 03, 2016 06:52am
This is why socialism and this culture of "unions" are so backward and have no place in capitalist societies. Most of these employees need to be fired. PIA is over-staffed and mismanaged to the core. More than 45% of its employees are redundant. Bite the bullet and go find other jobs. Privatization and mass layoffs and selling of assets overseas is the only answer. I have no sympathy for PIA workers on strike, fire those who dont report to duty and re-structure the entire company. It can be profitable and a top global performer if the software and hardware of the organization is completely revamped.
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Feb 03, 2016 01:18pm
The demands PIA employees are making are as usual stupid and outrageous, Take back the bill passed in Assembly, so you are think PIA employees are more important than representatives of 180 million people of the country.
Employees are going to reform the PIA, another impossible promise. Aviation policies may need review but not on account of an failed air line and its not PIA employee business anyway. It is obvious PIA employees or their union have no idea of what impossible circumstances they face and what it will take to keep their jobs and turn in a good days work for a good days pay.
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Feb 04, 2016 03:51pm
If the govt has the right to privatize then the people has the right to protest in a democracy. To open fire and kill protesters is illegal. In the past the Punjab govt. killed innocent people including women of PAT. There should be judicial inquiry of killing two PIA employees the responsible should be prosecuted.
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