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| PIA spokesperson, Abdullah Hafeez Khan |
PIA addressing its
financial obligations: Spokesperson
Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA) has rejected recent reports suggesting an imminent shutdown of
its operations, asserting that the national carrier is actively addressing its
financial obligations, both domestically and in ternationally.
As PIA grapples with securing
the necessary funds to sustain its operations in the coming months, it has
grounded several aircraft. Some media outlets had even suggested that
operations might cease by September 15, prompting a robust response from the
airline's management and Senate lawmakers.
Government
fast-tracks PIA privatization amid financial crisis
In the midst of this
financial challenge, the Ministry of Aviation has requested a cash infusion of
Rs23 billion. Additionally, there have been reports indicating that leading
commercial jet manufacturers Boeing and Airbus were nearing a halt in supplying
spare parts by mid-September.
PIA's spokesperson,
Abdullah Hafeez Khan, has categorically refuted these reports, deeming them as
unsubstantiated. Khan stated that flight operations continue as usual, with the
airline also fulfilling critical domestic and international payment
commitments.
He emphasized that concerns
and misconceptions circulating in a particular segment of the public regarding
PIA were baseless and untrue. The spokesperson acknowledged that the airline's
reputation had suffered due to reports of a potential closure by September 15
but reassured that all financial obligations, including employee salaries, were
being met.
Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) to halt operations of several aircraft
Khan highlighted that PIA
remains steadfast in maintaining its flight schedules and possesses the
resilience to navigate these challenges, supported by a robust global network
and an adequate fleet for both international and domestic routes.
In a separate development,
the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has initiated the pre-bidding
process for the outsourcing of Islamabad International Airport's operations
through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Interested parties have been
invited to a pre-bid conference scheduled for September 26 in Dubai. The PCAA
has set a confirmation deadline of September 19 for attendance, with further
details to be communicated closer to the event. Any updates regarding the
meeting date will be posted on the PCAA website.
The decision to outsource
operations at Islamabad International Airport was initiated during the tenure
of the previous PDM government, with former aviation minister Khawaja Saad
Rafique announcing a 15-year outsourcing plan in July. Notably, navigational
services and runway operations will remain under the purview of the CAA, while
the remainder of operations will be outsourced, with competitive bidding
determining the contract recipient from among the interested parties.
Source: Dawn