Prime Minister Sheh
baz Sharif on Wednesday said that the incompetent ministers of the previous government had victimised international investors, Chinese firms and Turkish businessmen.
He was chairing a high-level meeting to discuss the matters pertaining to
the PIA, according to
the PM Office.
Calling the r
eformation process inevitable, the prime minister told the meeting that
the PIA could only progress if run by professional and administrative experts purely on a profit-and-loss basis.
The prime minister said the government was heading toward a policy mechanism in which its role would be confined to the policy-making, and facilita
tion of investors, businessmen and companies.
The prime minister constituted a high-level committee to work out the restructuring, r
eformation and revival of
the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The committee, headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, would present its proposals and recommendations to the Federal Cabinet after Eidul Azha.
The committee would also comprise Railways and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to
the PM Jahanzeb
Khan and secretary aviation. The body would deliberate on different options for the restructuring and revival of
the PIA.
The aviation minister briefed the prime minister about the proposed route map and r
eformative measures for the uplift of the national flag carrier. The prime minister appreciated the efforts of the minister for
the PIA’s revival. He viewed that
the PIA had the capacity to overcome the losses. The meeting was told that the number of planes in
the PIA fleet would have to be increased from 27 to 49, in order to steer the airline out of the crisis. Prime Minister Shehbaz said
the PIA had lost the Europe and US routes owing to irresponsible statements by the previous government, inflicting the loss of billions of rupees.
Federal ministers Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Azam Nazeer Tarar, Advisor Ahad Cheema and relevant authorities attended the meeting. Federal ministers Syed Naveed Qamar, Ishaq Dar and Ahsan Iqbal, SAPM Jahanzeb
Khan and others joined via video link. Separately, Prime Minister Sheh
baz Sharif greeting
the Pakistani expatriates as well as the Muslim world on Eid-ul-Azha said the festival symbolised the spirit of sacrifice, equality and compassion. “On the blessed occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, I extend my heartiest greetings to Muslims in general and our overseas Pakistanis in particular who are celebrating this festival today,” he wrote on Twitter.
He said Eid-ul-Azha fostered unity by reducing socio-economic inequalities and created the feelings of empathy and complete surrender before Allah Almighty. He said a true observance of this day demanded of the Muslims to adopt a life of piety and cleanliness. The prime minister also prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the lives of the followers with peace and prosperity.
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