The privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sparked widespread outrage and raised questions about the government’s handling of the national asset. In a statement released from Lahore, Chaudhry Manzoor, the chairman of the Peoples’ Labour Bureau, accused the government of misleading the nation by portraying privatization as a success. He claimed that the entire process was a scandal and that the government was selling off national assets at a fraction of their value.
Chaudhry Manzoor questioned how the government could justify selling off national assets when the country’s resources were already scarce. He pointed out that PIA’s assets, including its fleet of 30 aircraft, were valued at over 100 billion rupees, while the company’s employees’ provident fund was worth 20 billion rupees. He also mentioned that eight buildings and spare parts valued at over 10 billion rupees were also part of the assets being sold.
Meanwhile, the privatization advisor, Muhammad Ali, claimed that the privatization of PIA was a success and that the company was sold at a good price. He mentioned that the company’s assets were worth over 1,000 billion rupees and that it had generated a profit of 26 billion rupees last year.
The chairman of the Peoples’ Labour Bureau, however, disputed these claims, saying that the privatization of PIA was a form of exploitation and a violation of the country’s sovereignty. He pointed out that the company’s salary impact was only 16% and that the government was essentially giving away the country’s assets to private companies.
The controversy surrounding PIA’s privatization has sparked debate and discussion in the media and among the public. The government’s handling of the national airline has been questioned, and many have raised concerns about the impact of privatization on the country’s economy and workforce.
