PIA to run on public-private partnership: Pervaiz Rashid
19 September, 2013
KARACHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Pervez Rashid said the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was not being privatised, but a public-private partnership structure would be introduced.
He said the change was being introduced for the betterment of the organisation and the interests of employees would be protected.
He was talking to the representatives of the Joint Ad-hoc Committee of PIA Employees who called on him at a local hotel on Wednesday.
The delegation was led by Pakistan Airline Pilots' Association (PALPA) President Sohail Baloch and Air League Central President Shamim Akmal. The minister said the government wanted to help streamline the affairs of the national flag carrier and this approach was being adopted for the benefit of the PIA.
He said a managing director would be appointed in the PIA who would not only share the profit in the organisation but would also bear the losses, in case such a situation arises.
Regarding the meeting with the delegation of the representatives of the PIA employees, he said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had asked him to convey his viewpoint about the national flag carrier. He said the concerns of the PIA employees and their representatives were the concern of the government as well because the airline was a national asset. The minister said that salvaging the PIA would also save the prestige of the country.
Pervez Rashid was of the view that no business should be run under the government control and that during its previous term the PML-N government had adopted the policy of liberalisation of the economy.
The minister made it clear that there would be no agreement that would affect the interests of the PIA employees. He said the track record of the government showed that it never compromised on the interests of the workers.
Sohail Baloch said the PIA should be given an 'honest chance' for reviving itself.
He said there should be a professional board for the PIA.
Shamim Akmal was of the view that the PIA had the potential to survive. The meeting was also attended by Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan President Shaukat Jamshed, Air League Lahore President Ahmed Butt, Alliance of Friends of Senior Staff Association Karachi Senior Vice President Safder Anjum, Alliance Welfare Secretary Arshad Nazir, and Air league Lahore General Secretary Mahmood Bukhari.
End.
|
