Opposing privatisation: Need for transparency in privatisation stressed

Government should identify those interested in buying PIA: Tareen

MULTAN:

The government must reveal the identities of those looking to buy the Pakistan International Airlines, MNA Jahangir Tareen of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf said while talking to media on Wednesday.

“This isn’t about whether the government ought to privatise PIA or not, it’s about the confidence people have in the government,” he said. Every past attempt to privatise state-owned enterprises has been accompanied with allegations that the government is selling off the country’s assets for some vested interests, he said. “This isn’t the first time that reservations regarding the privatisation process are being aired.” The people deserve to know who the government is planning to sell PIA to. “And this isn’t just limited to the PIA, the government should make public buyers and real owners of all formerly state-owned organisations,” he said.

Tareen said the government should also reveal the political leanings of the buyers.

Criticising the petroleum prices in the market, he said Pakistan was way behind the international market. “There is a gaping difference between the two prices and it doesn’t appear that Pakistan will catch up with the reduced prices any time soon.”

Tareen said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had invested billions of rupees in public transport and energy projects. These projects are only providing fuel for the Sharifs’ own firms, he said. “Why is it that Pakistan Steel Mills is a lost cause but the steel mills owned by key figures in the PML-N are thriving?” He said that the PTI would oppose the sale of national assets.

Civil society celebrates PIA’s new rates

Civil Society Network for Peace president Mohsin Hamdani led a citizens’ walk at Chah Boharwala area lauding the PIA Joint Action Committee’s decision to resume operations and the management’s decision to lower airfare.

Hamdani said this would restore the pride of the national carrier. “It is imperative for the government and the PIA workers to arrive at a mutual decision regarding the fate of the PIA.”

Several lawyers held a demonstration in Khanewal in this regard. Advocate Shahbaz Gurmani said every positive step from the government should be appreciated. “We need to save our assets rather than sell them. Poor management over the past two decades has eaten away at the national carrier.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2016.