PIA incurring Rs 100m loss every day!

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad admitted during the National Assembly session that Pakistan International Airline (PIA) was incurring a loss of Rs 100 million daily largely due to an ageing fleet, cash shortage, devaluation of Pakistani rupee, high fuel prices ,heavy loans resulting in high financial cost, frequent changes in management, high number of employees/aircraft. He said the national flag carrier faced loss of about Rs 60 billion during the last two years due to mismanagement and inaction on the part of previous PPP government.
He said the present government had given a package of Rs 12.70 billion to PIA for its restructuring.
Ahmad said six small aircraft would be procured on lease for PIA to provide better travelling facilities to the domestic travellers.
Railways privatisation:
The National Assembly was informed on Friday that the government had no plans to privatise Pakistan Railways.
While responding to a question by Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique informed the Lower House that there was no proposal under consideration to privatise Pakistan Railways.
He said freight operation of PR would gradually be increased and by the end of 2013, at least six trains would be operated on a daily basis‚ which would help generate revenue of Rs 20 million to Rs 25 million a day. Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanvir Hussain laid before the House “The Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill‚ 2013”. He also laid before the House “The Electoral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance‚ 2013”.
Oath-taking: At the outset of the proceedings‚ eight lawmakers who recently got elected in the by-elections, took oath of office. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq administered the oath.