1-15th March: CAA incurred Rs 600 million loss: minister

Federal Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan said on Wednesday that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had incurred a loss of Rs 600 million during the time period of 1-15th March, which was expected to grow further.
He said the Aviation Industry around the world had faced immense losses due to the spread of coronavirus. Similarly, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has also incurred a loss of Rs 4 billion till 25th of March. The entire expected loss of the PIA for the month of March could reach Rs 6 billion.
Aviation Minister said that the PIA organized 27 special ferry flights in order to bring back 8,824 stranded Pakistanis, who went to perform Umrah at Saudi Arabia. He said that 40 Pakistanis at Doha and 100 Pakistanis from Dubai were also brought back who were stuck there because of negative corona test requirement.
Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that Pakistan was already facing tough economic conditions even without the havoc wreaked by coronavirus. He appealed to all segments of the society including media of the country to support the present government in its fight against the virus, which had adversely impacted even the strongest of economies in the world.
He applauded the economic relief package announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said that even in such trying times, the Government of Pakistan had provided the people with great relief. He said that the reduction in petroleum prices would directly reduce inflation and provide immediate relief to the common man.