PIA employees threaten to take extreme measures to block privatization of Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA)
Workers of the People’s
Unity faction staged a protest against the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA),
asserting they will not allow the move to happen under any circumstances.
The protest took place outside the PIA Town Office in Lahore, where employees, holding banners, took to the streets to voice their strong opposition to the privatization process. They called for an immediate halt, arguing that the decision to privatize PIA violates both the Constitution and the law.
Read More Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) union to go on strike against privatization
Rana Kashif, President of People’s Unity, spoke to the media, emphasizing that PIA has been profitable for the past 18 months, with routes to Europe and other regions having been restored. He proposed that if privatization is unavoidable, the airline should be handed over to its employees, who are willing to outbid any external company.
Kashif further criticized the government for
preventing employees from carrying out necessary maintenance work on grounded
planes and alleged that efforts were being made to sell the airline to
"mafia groups" at discounted prices.
In a passionate statement, Kashif warned that if the privatization process continues, employees might even resort to extreme measures to block it. He added that privatization has not been approved by either Parliament or the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
Read More Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) employees protest against privatization of
national carrier
He concluded by asserting that as a state-owned enterprise, PIA's privatization is unconstitutional and illegal unless proof of parliamentary approval is provided by the authorities.
Source: Dialogue Pakistan