PIA to resume EU flight operations in six months: minister

Rafique says those with fake degrees can’t be given death penalty

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique on Monday expressed confidence that the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would be able to resume flight operations in Europe within six months.

Speaking to the media, in a veiled reference to his predecessor Ghulam Sarwar Khan, he, without taking names, said that billions of rupees had been lost due to his “stupidity”.

He added that they were coming out of this “trauma” by working together to overcome the obstacles.

He said that they will be able to restore PIA’s operations in Europe within six months.

“Those with fake degrees cannot be given death penalty,” he remarked, adding that not all of them were fake degree holders.

“There will be a few [people] with fake degrees, you cannot beat them all with one stick,” he added.

The minister said that unfortunately, the state airline had touched the final limits of decline. However, he added that he knew how to straighten up organisations to get them running.

Read Turkish Airlines to expand operations in Pakistan

On the economic situation, he said that the country and its economy were going through difficult times, adding that as a nation, everyone had to play their part.

Regarding promotions and foreign postings, he said that the minister or chief executive officer (CEO) had nothing to do with it, and the state airline made its own recruitments with each succeeding government.

He remarked that it had been 10 years since the VIP lounge was upgraded, and they were now upgrading international and domestic lounges in Karachi.

He said that three more aircraft on lease were going to join the national flag carrier’s fleet.

Regarding maintenance work, the minister said that any aircraft that came for repairs would be painted, pointing out that even foam had disappeared from the planes’ seats, but they were fixing it.

He remarked that the Turkish Airlines was taking Pakistani passengers to Europe.

Rafique also took the opportunity to request the pilots who were leaving the PIA for other airlines due to taxes to stay, saying that they would request the finance ministry to simplify taxes for pilots.