PM Imran directs for expediting PIA reforms, restructuring

Imran Khan says burden of losses incurred by government institutions is ultimately borne by people

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday emphasised the need for accelerating the process of reforms and restructuring of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to turn the national flag carrier a for-profit utility.

Chairing a high-level meeting on PIA reforms, Imran directed for the best use of all available resources in a transparent manner in order to make national institutions like PIA functional and profitable organisations.

“The burden of loss of billions of rupees incurred by the government institutions is ultimately borne by the people,” Imran said. “Taking important national institutions out of losses and making them functional and stable institutions is an important part of the agenda of the present government.”

The meeting reviewed the progress on the PIA reforms. The meeting was informed that the PIA’s losses were significantly reduced by the present management to enable it to operate flights without incurring any losses but the coronavirus pandemic hampered these efforts.

The prime minister said that it was necessary to expedite administrative reforms and to ensure efficient utilisation of all available resources in a transparent manner. He directed that progress be made in this regard on a priority basis in accordance with a detailed and comprehensive strategy.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ghulam Sarwar, Shibli Faraz, Asad Umar, Muhammadmian Soomro, prime minister’s advisers Dr Ishrat Hussain, Razzaq Dawood, Dr Hafeez Sheikh. special assistants Lt-Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa, Zulfiqar Bukhari, Chairman Board of Investment Atif Bukhari, PIA chief Air Marshal Arshad Malik and senior officers.