The government Wednesday enforced the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 allowing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to take punitive actions against employees who disobey lawful orders, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

The Essential Services Act has been implemented on the orders of the Ministry of Interior and for a period of six months.

According to a notification, the act has been enforced to ensure uninterrupted airline operations.

The act applies to all employees who disobey any lawful order given in the course of employment, or attempt to persuade any person to disobey any such order.

It also applies to employees who without reasonable excuse abandon their job or absent themselves from work or refuse to work or depart from any area specified in an order under sub-section (1) of section 4 without the consent of the authority.

“Any person found guilty of an offence under this act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and shall also be liable to a fine,” it says.