ISLAMABAD
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah on Sunday expressed his concerns over the closure of four PIA offices in Sindh and one in Balochistan as well as the discrimination in promotion of officers in the national flag carrier.
In a letter to the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the opposition leader drew his attention that four PIA offices in Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Nawabshah and one in Pasni have been closed. He said this has caused grave concern among the local community as it would result not only in the loss of many jobs but also a convenient transportation facility for the people.
The opposition leader also pointed out that deserving officers have been completely ignored in the recent promotions in PIA which not only raises questions regarding impartiality of merit system but will also result in the demoralization of the employees on the whole.
Shah stressed that decisions should be made in an unbiased and appropriate manner. Closing the offices and ignoring the deserving employees for promotions will not result in improving the efficiency of PIA, he said.
He said if the government was interested in the revival of PIA, then it should take those productive steps which would make it a profitable organisation and refrain from those which deepen the sense of deprivation and exploitation. The government’s responsibility is to facilitate the public rather than depriving them of available facilities, he added.
The opposition leader suggested Nawaz to look into the matter and guide the authorities concerned to take rational and popular decisions.