Senate asks Imran's govt not to shift PIA headquarters

Adopts resolution seeking to allow candidates take CSS exams in Urdu

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday passed a resolution asking the government not to shift headquarters of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from Karachi to Islamabad.

The resolution moved by 42 lawmakers of opposition parties was adopted with a majority vote.  The government and its allies opposed the move. Taking the floor, the Pakistan People Party’s (PPP) Sherry Rehman asked three questions that, she said, needed urgent answers from the government.

“First, if the government is not shifting PIA headquarters to Islamabad, as it claims, then why is it opposing the resolution? It suggests something is not right.

“The government should give a definitive statement about the motivations behind the move. Why is this entire process being kept so secretive?” Sherry Rehman said.

She said there is a general view that the government is trying to centralise every service, authority, and just about any activity or resource to Islamabad.

“Legally, the government’s move goes against the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Act, 2016 (PIACC), Clause 7 (2 ) which clearly states that PIA’s headquarters (as well as that of its subsidiary companies carrying on an air-transport business) should be in Karachi”.

Other opposition members including Raza Rabbani, Mushahidullah Khan, Moula Bakhsh Chandio and Chaudhary Tanveer said Karachi is the commercial hub of the country and the PIA head office should not be shifted to Islamabad.

They said headquarters of the State Bank of Pakistan, the National Bank of Pakistan and the Civil Aviation Authority are also located in Karachi. Shifting of the PIA headquarters to Islamabad would create problems for hundreds of thousands of employees, they said.

Responding to their concerns, Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan said neither any decision was taken nor any directive was issued to shift the PIA headquarters to Islamabad. “The issue is being politicised. A decision would be taken in larger national and the institution interest,” he said.

He said consensus of both houses would be taken in this regard before taking any such decision. The minister said losses of the PIA have started to reduce owing to the steps taken by the government. Flights are being operated on commercially viable routes, he added

CSS in Urdu

The upper house also passed with the majority a resolution, calling for allowing candidates to take the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam also in the Urdu language. The resolution was moved by Senator Sirajul Haq, saying it is inevitable for national unity.

State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said Supreme Court of Pakistan had given judgment in 2015 to implement the Urdu language as an official language.

Later, the Lahore High Court directed the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) to translate the English subjects in Urdu following which the FPSC approached the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

However, the HEC expressed its difficulties in implementing the directions in letter and spirit. “It said the percentage of drop out in the exam would be increased, if the decision is implemented in hurry. However, the decision will be implemented,” the minister said.

Scholarship programme

The Senate also passed a resolution, seeking extension in Prime Minister's Scholarship Programme for the students of Balochistan. Moving a resolution in the house, Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammadi Shahi said the scholarship programme was launched in 2011 for the talented students of Balochistan.

Under the programme, five grade-7 students including one boy and four girls each from all districts of Balochistan were selected for enrolling in best institutions of the country. However, the programme was closed in 2015. He requested the house to revive the programme.

Addressing the member, Leader of the House Shibli Faraz said it was a very successful programme and it would continue to impart quality education to the needy students of Balochistan.

The upper house also offered fateha for the departed souls of martyred navy official and other civilians who lost their lives in a terrorist attack at Gwadar on Saturday.