Losing access: PIA to close booking office in Abbottabad from November 20
Local QWP leader says people will take to the streets if deprived of this facility.
Local QWP leader says people will take to the streets if deprived of this facility. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ABBOTABAD:
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to close down its regional booking office in Abbottabad from November 20, Qaumi Watan Party district president, Malik Jamil Hussain told media on Sunday.
In a notification issued last month, PIA’s administration, attributed the decision to losses the airline has been bearing. Hussain condemned the decision, claiming the Abbottabad PIA office has a monthly income of Rs20 million and made Rs280 million last year.
“PIA has been spending a nominal amount on its staff salaries and the building, which is hardly 0.5% of their income,” claimed Hussain.
Criticising Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s government for closing a profit-making office in Abbottabad, he said this office has been offering facilities to people from six districts of Hazara, including military personnel, for years. Hussain added its closure would deprive residents of Hazara region from the facility of booking airplane seats.
“Nawaz Sharif, who has been elected twice from Abbottabad, has made several promises of constructing an airport but they have been proved worthless,” he said. The government is now bent on depriving them the right of easy access to this facility as well, he added. Hussain demanded cancellation orders of the closure of the office, otherwise, the people of Hazara would take to the streets, he warned.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2013.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to close down its regional booking office in Abbottabad from November 20, Qaumi Watan Party district president, Malik Jamil Hussain told media on Sunday.
In a notification issued last month, PIA’s administration, attributed the decision to losses the airline has been bearing. Hussain condemned the decision, claiming the Abbottabad PIA office has a monthly income of Rs20 million and made Rs280 million last year.
“PIA has been spending a nominal amount on its staff salaries and the building, which is hardly 0.5% of their income,” claimed Hussain.
Criticising Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s government for closing a profit-making office in Abbottabad, he said this office has been offering facilities to people from six districts of Hazara, including military personnel, for years. Hussain added its closure would deprive residents of Hazara region from the facility of booking airplane seats.
“Nawaz Sharif, who has been elected twice from Abbottabad, has made several promises of constructing an airport but they have been proved worthless,” he said. The government is now bent on depriving them the right of easy access to this facility as well, he added. Hussain demanded cancellation orders of the closure of the office, otherwise, the people of Hazara would take to the streets, he warned.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2013.