Editorial

The PIA quagmire

Government is now reportedly contemplating launching another airline

Editorial February 06, 2016

PHOTO: REUTERS

It seems that the government’s actions on the economic front, of late, have been met with only two kinds of responses: harsh criticism or fierce protests. This just goes to show the kind of hostility that the PML-N is faced with. However, it has no one but itself to blame for this state of affairs. The PML-N’s habit of trying to run the show single-handedly, without consultation, has forced it on the back foot on more than one occasion. Its latest attempt at salvaging its reputation has now resulted in it mulling over an entirely bizarre option. After failing to make any progress on the issue of the privatisation of the ailing PIA, the government is now reportedly contemplating launching another airline. Planes will be obtained through wet lease and operations would be outsourced. The airline would be looked after by the government, but would remain a private company in practice.

There is no doubt that all draconian moves vis-a-vis dealings with the PIA unions have backfired so far. There has been little emphasis on dialogue and the government, with all its power, has been unable to win. This is partly because it was never willing to get all stakeholders on board on a matter as important as the privatisation of the national carrier. But worst of all is its habit of continuing to adopt a stubborn approach in the face of adversity, which is now causing inconvenience to thousands of passengers. Both the unions and the government must realise that talks need to be held and issues addressed in good faith. Both parties need to sit down and work out a way to make PIA stand on its feet. The airline has the potential to make this happen, but the will for this has been missing for years. Launching another airline will achieve nothing, but increase problems for a government desperately looking to narrow the budget deficit. In any case, who would want to invest money in an airline when there is a reasonable chance that PIA employees, who appear to have plenty of street power, could block roads leading towards airports? If the government wants employees to end their strike, it has chosen the worst way possible. There is no way out of this mess except to initiate a dialogue. The employee unions must also show flexibility for the sake of the flying public. Discussions need to begin with only one agenda — helping PIA recover.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2016.

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COMMENTS (2)

Yul47 | 8 years ago | Reply The question one raises after all talk shows advocating of Government entering into a deal to sell PIA and as long as there is no impropriety, it should be upheld. It is a misfortune the way third time round the same Government conducts its business in a veil of secrecy, fingers will naturally be raised by suspicious employees being sacrificial goat. The business tycoons have led Pakistan in between military rule lack wisdom, their action usually inappropriate in its use of tax payers money in a manner befitting their own kind. In the alternative, the Government should explore avenues to buy top management from any country learning from success of Emirates and other airlines in that region, knowing such management will stop bleeding of an ailing PIA, sufficient incentives may have to be given to top flight management, if PIA is turned around.

Sodomite | 8 years ago | Reply Mr.Editor you make sane points, but is Mr. Zubair or PMLN sane enough to read them?? I doubt it. They are playing fiddle now with another airline evidencing non-serious attitude and lack of faith to meet workers demands. GOP if it wants can fix PIA's self-inflected problems, but then they would not be able to buy the airline for nothing. Its selfishness and greed that has evidenced throughout this term of Nawaz Sharif.

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