PM forms committee for PIA revival

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday formed a committee for the restructuring and revival of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The committee will put forth their recommendations and suggestions before the cabinet for the welfare of PIA after Eid. Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique briefed the meeting about the revival of PIA and was appreciated by PM Shehbaz for his efforts.

Shehbaz said that PIA has the potential to recover from the damage and losses. He said that to get the airline out of the crisis, the number of aircraft in the fleet should be increased from 27 to 49. The incompetence of the former government cost the national airline a heavy loss of billions and also the European and American air passages and now it can thrive only on the condition that it is run by professional management and experts on a profit and loss basis purely. Taking such measures for PIA is a must. The government is taking steps for bringing a policy system where its function will only be to make decisions according to policies and to provide facilities to investors, entrepreneurs and companies.

The members in the PIA revival and restructuring committee include Federal Minister of Finance Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister of Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique, Federal Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant Jehanzeb Khan and Secretary Aviation.