Old employees of PIA fear lay-offs once the airline is privatised. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
LONDON: In a rare comment on the financial health of a particular state-run organisation, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain implored the government to consider interests of old employees of the ailing national carrier ahead of its planned privatisation.
In a statement released by the MQM on Monday, Hussain said that news of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) privatisation has worried its employees.
The employee cost in airlines has traditionally remained high. But the cost composition has changed drastically in the last few years with a sharp increase in oil prices. PIA hasn’t been an exception.
In 2003, PIA employees were eating up 19.3% of revenues while fuel accounted for 24.2%. In absolute terms, employees were paid Rs9.172 billion and Rs17.9 billion was spent on buying jet fuel.
After nine years, the employees and fuel consume 22% and 54.54% of revenues. But in absolute terms, the cost of employees has jumped to Rs27.5 billion.
But with plans afoot to privatise the airlines, workers are worried.
Hussain said that following news of the privatisation, some employees have made the MQM aware of their concerns. They fear they could become victims of lay-off because of privatisation, and that it could destroy their future, the statement read.
The MQM chief said that he has assured the government that his party would support their positive policies to turn around the fortunes of state-owned organisations which are suffering loses. However, Hussain said that the government should also safeguard the future of old employees.
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@A2Z: "So in other words MQM is acknowledging that political appointments were made and MQM has its fair share in this. Shame on you MQM"
London is a very expensive city, you see!
@Ayesha: Miss Ayesha, so the people paying TAX are not common man, from which the airline has got numerous bailouts.....but still is unable to survive on its own.
Bhai the union leader.....
If Altaf is so concerned about his political hirings in PIA, then he should pay them from his pocket instead of bleeding the national exchequer $4-5 billion every year. a poor country like Pakistan cannot afford such white elephants. time to privatize PIA.
Lay off all these politically appointed employees. They actually ruined PIA. They mostly belong to MQM mafia and corrupt PPP.
Why Mr. Altaf is interfering? It is due to those political employments, political interference and working attitude of old employees due to which PIA suffered with huge losses.
Altaf Hussain is the only leader who thinks about the common man. More power to him!
Anyone who "works" in government or government controlled organizations for five years, can live rest of his life on corruption money. Too bad if he did not make hay when sun shined. Closing your eyes when others made money is as bad as doing yourself.
So in other words MQM is acknowledging that political appointments were made and MQM has its fair share in this. Shame on you MQM
No need for old employees. Kick them off.
These employees will laid off in any case as the airline will collapse if the govt continues to fund their illegal employment.
Why is he interfering?
There is no room for politics here. It's because if this sort of politics that PIA is in ruins.