PIA has come up with an aggressive strategy for its restructuring though it had faced loss of Rs 200 billion during the last eight years. Secretary Defence and Chairman Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Lt-Gen (r) Asif Yasin Malik, made the remarks addressing representatives of the business community of South Punjab at Shamim Committee Room of the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday noon.
“We are flying wrong aircraft on wrong routes,” he said and added that they were going to buy eight aircraft for the national flag carrier by October or December this year. He disclosed that PIA had not added new aircraft to its fleet for a decade. About Multan International Airport’s completion, the PIA chairman announced that it would be operational by the first quarter of 2014.
“It is too big for today. However, it will need expansion after 2025,” he added. Malik added that Prime-Minister designate Nawaz Sharif was keenly interested in steering the country out of crises and he also had devised a plan for PIA.
Recalling PIA’s golden era, he said that it was the first airline in Asia that started serving meal to passengers during flights and added that it was also the first airline that introduced jet aircraft.
President MCCI, Muhammad Khan Sadozai, in his welcome address urged the PIA chairman to fly direct flights to England and Saudi Arabia from Multan besides enhancing Haj flights.
Sadozai said that exporters of Multan especially mango exporters should be provided with space on priority. Senior Vice president MCCI, Bakhtawar Tanvir Sheikh, extended the vote of thanks to the PIA chairman.
