KARACHI - Adviser to Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem has said that the biggest challenge is to make PIA a profitable airline.
On the instructions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif all efforts are being made for the revival of the airline and put it on the path of recovery within the next six months. The Economic Coordination Committee in the first phase has approved a bailout package of Rs. 7 billion for the national flag carrier. Shujaat Azeem thanked Prime Minister and Finance Minister for their support in the grant of Rs 7 billion bailout package. The newly constituted PIA Board of Directors has decided not to take any perks and privileges from the airline such as pay, free travel for self and family members. The Chairman PIA, Aslam Khalique has also announced that he will not draw any salary as Chairman PIA.
The Adviser to the Prime Minister on Aviation, Shujaat Azeem and PIA’s newly constituted Board of Directors have made critical analysis of passenger traffic over the last 5 years and the projected figures from IATA and local aviation advisers decided to induct 10 narrow body new generation aircraft on priority basis. This will facilitate the domestic flights that have been put into jeopardy for a very long time due to non-availability of narrow body aircraft and bring down the fuel cost by 28–30pc. It will also improve the flight schedule of the airline. PIA plans to increase frequency of its profitable routes while the loss making routes will be reviewed and need be closed. Shujaat Azeem has said that the change process has started in PIA. Corruption, mismanagement, politics and nepotism will be rooted out.
Together with the highly skilled Board of Directors, experienced and dedicated workforce of the national carrier,
PIA will once again achieve new heights and the results of positive change will be visible in the near future.