Pakistan

Palpa urges PIA joint action committee to resume operations

Palpa is not in favour of extending the strike, Palpa President Amir Hashmi said

News Desk February 06, 2016

PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: The Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (Palpa) on Saturday urged Pakistan International Airline (PIA) workers' joint action committee to resume flight operations, Express News reported.

"The association was never in favour of halting flight operations, but following the death of our colleagues, it had become impossible to continue operations," Palpa President Capt Amir Hashmi said while addressing the media.

PIA crisis: Late night meeting fails to break deadlock

Major Pakistan airports remained crippled by industrial action Saturday as a strike by employees of the national flag carrier against plans to privatise the airline entered its fifth day.

All of PIA's foreign and domestic flights were suspended with thousands of passengers, including Pakistani domestic workers trying to fly to the Middle East, stranded at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and other key hubs.

Capt Hashmi asserted that Palpa is not in support of extending the strike any further. "Three-day mourning period is over, pilots should not resume their duties," he said.

PIA strike grounds passengers across country

Earlier this week, two protesting airline employees were shot dead and several more wounded at Karachi’s international airport when clashes broke out between security forces and staff, though authorities denied opening fire.

The strike continues despite Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s warning the demonstration was illegal and those taking part could face up to a year in prison under a law that restricts union activity in state-administered sectors.

COMMENTS (2)

Saba A | 8 years ago | Reply Even though I do not agree with the government selling off the airline to a private sector, PIA airlines has too many staff members which need to be redundant. Compared to other airlines, PIA has way more employees than needed; 10 people do a job that 1 person could do in another airline. The fleet size and number of destinations PIA fly to is quite small, yet PIA are the ones who are making millions in losses. PIA is not suffering a loss, it's just spending 10 times more than it earns. I dislike the Pakistani goverment, we can all agree they are far from a good government but that's just simple logic. On the other hand, the strikes and the shootings of two PIA employees is not on and this is where the government literally shoots itself in the foot. At the end of the day, the strike should end. Many people are suffering because of the cancellations and many other airlines are suffering because of this. PIA is not making the money it needs so therefore should be sold off or people who are not needed need to be sacked.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply Bravo! Govt. knocked the winds out of the sails of Dharna Khan Niazi when before he set foot in Karachi.

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