Acquisition of property: PIA rules out suspension of Delhi flights

Air carrier insists it acquired the space in 2005

LAHORE: A spokesperson for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Monday ruled out the possibility of the air carrier suspending its flights to India.

“There is no imminent threat to close PIA’s flight operations [to New Delhi],” said the spokesperson of the national flag carrier. According to the spokesperson, the airline has been maintaining its offices and business in Delhi for more than three decades.

In 2005, PIA acquired immoveable property in New Delhi for the purpose of running its offices. PIA had completed all required formalities for the acquisition of these properties.

But then after more than nine years, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through a letter dated November 24, 2014 had objected that PIA purchased these properties in New Delhi in 2005 without its permission.

The airline, however, is taking all necessary measures to safeguard and protect its assets and there is no imminent threat to close PIA’s flight operations to New Delhi, he said.

Pak envoy takes up issue

The high commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, told a news channel that Islamabad has taken up the matter of the vacation notice to PIA.

“Yes, we have taken up the matter with the Indian ministry of external affairs (MEA) and are expecting a meeting in this regard shortly,” Basit said.

A report published in The Hindu on Sunday said that the airline had been issued a notice to “dispose of” its offices in New Delhi as the purchase was declared “unauthorised” by the authorities.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2015.