PIA asked to curtail fares on international routes

In an attempt to save national flag carrier from further losses, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence on Tuesday directed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to curtail fares on international routes and offer quality lodging facilities to its crew members during their official stay abroad. The standing committee unanimously recommended this during a meeting at the Parliament House with Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the chair.
The committee members took strong notice of the complaints regarding high fares on both domestic and international flights. The members noted one of the major reasons of PIA's manifold losses was its inflated charges forcing people to travel on other private airlines, especially on European, American and South East Asian routes.
Shujaat directed PIA Chairman Tariq Kirmani to take immediate action in this regard and provide better services to the passengers at economical rates.
Responding to volley of questions, Tariq Kirmani who has taken the charge just one month ago, assured the committee that PIA would certainly make the fares competitive with other foreign airlines in order to attract maximum passengers.
PIA is in the process of consultations and it would shortly announce reduction in the fares for all international routes, he said.
Meanwhile, the PIA management came under fire on substandard housing facilities to its cabin crew plying on international routes.
The PIA officials said the crew members were offered stay in either five or four star hotels, but such facility was no more feasible due to sharp increase in hotel charges.
The PIA chairman informed the committee that in previous years, cabin crew was provided accommodation in Hotel Pearl Continental, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar as per the contract with the Pakistan Services Limited.
However, during the third and fourth quarter of 2004, PIA faced problems due to unilateral increase of fares of the hotel management by 300 percent and also failed to oblige their contractual commitments.
Nevertheless, PIA had swiftly made alternative arrangements in three star hotels in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad/Rawalpindi to accommodate the cabin crew.
He assured that PIA would negotiate the issue with the hotel management for early resolution.
The committee was also informed that PIA would start a special service from Karachi to Dubai for the benefit of business community at nominal charges.
Defence Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal, MNAs Sumaira Malik, Lieutenant Colonel Ghulam Rasool Sahi (Retd), Nabil Ahmad Gabool and other concerned officials attended the meeting.