Trend of PIA staff slipping away in Canada continues
In the inaugural incident of 2024, a PIA air hostess reportedly
slipped away in Canada, marking a continuation of a concerning trend. This
follows five crew members slipping away in 2022 and seven in 2023 during
overseas flights, with a noteworthy concentration of incidents occurring in
Canada.
The backdrop of the national airline's privatization process has
intensified the uncertainties, contributing to an uptick in such incidents
involving PIA air hostesses and cabin crew members. Notably, none of the air
hostesses who slipped away in previous incidents were successfully brought back
to Pakistan, according to a PIA spokesperson.
Two
more PIA flight attendants reportedly missing in Canada
In the most recent development, the first reported case of a
missing PIA crew member in 2024 involves air hostess Faiza Mukhtar. She was
assigned to flight PK 781 from Islamabad to Toronto, and it is alleged that she
slipped away during her stay. Faiza Mukhtar, scheduled for duty on flight 784
from Toronto to Karachi, did not report for the return flight, raising
concerns.
The PIA spokesperson disclosed that departmental disciplinary
measures have been initiated against Mukhtar, and the national carrier
possesses affidavits from air hostesses involved, intending to collaborate with
the FIA for further action.
PIA
blames Canadian asylum policy for the 'vanishing' of staff
Sources indicate that the tally of air hostesses slipping away in
Toronto in recent months, including Faiza Mukhtar, stands at eight, surpassing
the annual average of five. The typical profile of airline employees seeking
political asylum after slipping away reveals an employment period of 15 to 17
years and an age range of 35 to 40 years.
The motivation behind airline workers seeking asylum in Canada is
attributed to low wages and economic instability. Despite the collection of
passports by the airline ground staff at the airport, crew members continue to
slip away. Affidavits obtained from staff posted on Toronto flights, pledging
not to engage in such actions, have proven ineffective in preventing these
incidents.
Source: Samaa TV