No plans for privatising PIA, Senate told

Aviation minister says state of financial affairs has improved

ISLAMABAD: Senate was informed on Thursday that the government has no plans for privatizing Pakistan International Airlines and an improvement proposal was in offing to make the national carrier stand on its feet.

Responding to a question, Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that the state of financial affairs had improved during the last eight months and flights were being operated at commercially viable domestic routes.

He noted that the process of accountability continued and at least 250 people were sacked from PIA on charges of holding fake degrees.

Responding to a calling attention notice on the non-availability of public transport facility at the New Islamabad International Airport, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan observed that the foundation stone of the airport was laid in 2006. The project was to be completed in four years at a cost of Rs35 billion.

However, the cost exceeded over Rs100 billion and the construction was not up to the mark. Supreme Court had taken suo moto notice on this issue and the investigation by FIA was still going on.

The minister maintained that there were two car parking spaces at the airport, one for the employees and the other for general public. He said the previous government had started a project of metro bus service for the airport, but due to lack of funds, it could not be completed.

Khan informed that funds have now been allocated for the remaining 25 percent work and it will be completed by the end of this year.

On a calling attention notice regarding talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by the government without taking the parliament into confidence, Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar said that Pakistan was constantly negotiating with international money lender since October last year.

He said that the finance committee would brief members of both houses of parliament on the details of the programme.

Hammad Azhar said 9.8 percent inflation was recorded in the first eight months of PTI government compared with 24.5pc in the corresponding period of PPP.

The minister pointed out that the increase in the price of oil in the regional countries was more than Pakistan. But the government extended a relief of Rs100 billion to the people to shield them from inflation. He said a single portal will be launched on July 1 to facilitate the tax filing.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said the impact of planting trees under Green Pakistan programme was bearing fruit.

On an adjournment motion regarding lack of modernization and internal accountability in FIA, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said that FIA was the first line of defence after police and it dealt with white collar crimes and other issues.

He said the body was being restructured to bring it on modern lines and that 500 new jobs were being created.