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Tag: PIA

  • PIA to offer discounted fare to vaccinated citizens

    The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)  has announced to give up to 10 percent discount on airfare to passengers who have vaccination certificate and are aged 50 years and above, ARY News has reported. The new fares will come into effect from today (10 June).

    Senior citizens who are 50-years-old or above can avail the discount on domestic flights by showing their Covid-19 vaccination certificate issued by NADRA. However, the discount can only be availed on domestic flights.

    According to CEO PIA Arshad Malik, “PIA actively seeks to boost the government’s vaccination campaign.”

    Yesterday, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) decided to introduce certain incentives for various sectors to encourage vaccinations.

    The NCOC also announced walk-in vaccination for citizens above 18 years of age from June 11.

  • PIA announces ‘Sadpara Air Safari’ to boost local tourism

    Pakistan International Airlines is all set to launch the ‘Sadpara Ali Safari’ service to boost local tourism in the country. The service is named after late mountaineer Ali Sadpara. The service is expected to start from June 12.

    As per the details, after the launch of the service, people will be able to book a flight from Islamabad and fly over to K2, Deosai, Nanga Parbat, and other mountains before landing in Skardu. During the flight the captain will enlighten the passengers with live commentary.

    The one way Air Safari service will cost Rs25,000, Express Tribune has reported.

    The return flight will operate as a normal flight carrying other passengers to provide travelling flexibility to their clients.

    Ali Sadpara lost his life earlier this year in February, along with two international mountaineers during their quest to conquer K2 in winter.

  • Maryam Mujtaba becomes first woman commercial pilot from Azad Kashmir

    Maryam Mujtaba becomes first woman commercial pilot from Azad Kashmir

    Maryam Mujtaba, a resident of Muzaffarabad has become the first female commercial pilot from Azad Kashmir.

    Talking to the media, Mujtaba said that flying planes always attracted her and she wanted to become a part of the aviation industry.

    AJK President Sardar Masood Khan praised her contributions to the field and has called her a role model for other young women.

    Mujtaba joined Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) back in 2011 as a cadet pilot. After getting the training from academies in Rawalpindi and America, she completed her flying hours through numerous domestic flights.

    Read more – Sindh appoints first-ever Hindu female Deputy Superintendent

    She was just promoted as a first officer by the national flag carrier after she finished her designated flying hours. Mujtaba currently operates the PIA Airbus A-320 aircraft in various countries of the world.

    Recalling her journey, she said her inspiration was captain Ayesha Rabia, who was also a captain in PIA. 

    “When I was a child, I was very excited to see a woman flying planes and I told my father that girls can fly planes too,” the pilot remembered, adding that it wasn’t always smooth sailing, but things turned out in her favour.

    She attributed her success to her family, friends and colleagues.

    Mujtaba encouraged women who want to become pilot and those who want to pursue other fields.

    Mujtaba highlighted that confidence is the “key to success.”

    “You should always be confident about what you are doing and take charge of your responsibilities,” the pilot advised.

  • LEAKED AUDIO: ‘PIA Training Centre official’ heard convincing boy for sex to clear exams

    LEAKED AUDIO: ‘PIA Training Centre official’ heard convincing boy for sex to clear exams

    • National carrier suspends official, says is committed to upholding highest moral behaviour

    The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended an official of PIA Training Centre (PTC) Karachi over a damning audio clip in which he could allegedly be heard asking a boy for sexual favours to clear exams.

    The action came after The Current reached out to PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez, who said the national carrier was committed to upholding the highest moral behaviour at work.

    “On the recording that has surfaced, we have started our probe to see if the conversation is legit,” he said.

    Hafeez maintained that the PIA management had zero tolerance towards any indecent conduct, and strict action was always ensured against any violation.

    Read more – ‘Fake pilot licences’: UN staffers asked to avoid Pakistani airlines

    Later, he confirmed that the official allegedly heard in the damning audio clip had been suspended pending a detailed investigation.

    LEAKED AUDIO

    On Monday night, The Current received from its sources in the PIA the damning audio in which the official could purportedly be heard convincing a boy for sodomy to clear his exams at PTC.

    “These PTC people never pass anyone. I am telling you,” he could be heard as saying to the boy who kept telling the official that he wasn’t into that stuff.

    “Earlier, I wasn’t into it either,” the official could be heard as telling the boy.

    He then goes on to accuse a woman of giving sexual favours to another official for perks. “That’s how they got married.”

    While the conversation continues for a good four minutes with the official continuing to convince the boy, its nature does not allow for it to be shared here.

  • Govt says no plans to privatise anything PIA

    Govt says no plans to privatise anything PIA

    The National Assembly (NA) was informed on Friday that there is no plan to privatise any of the assets of national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
    Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan said this during the question hour while speaking at the floor of the House, which met with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair.

    Sarwar said that the present government is very keen to make the national flag carrier self-reliant and profitable entity. Efforts are underway to improve the financial health of the airline by reducing its losses through various means, he said. He also said that loss-making routes have been closed and flights on profitable routes have been added which has resulted in reduction of losses.

    Responding to a question, the aviation minister said that 82 pilots were dismissed for acquiring the licences through unfair means. He said that a transparent mechanism has now been evolved to ensure the issuance of licenses in a transparent manner. An agreement to this effect has also been signed with the UK Civil Aviation Authority, he added.

    He maintained that the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) will carry out an audit of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in July this year. He was confident this will lead to removal of travel restrictions on the PIA in the European countries and that the airline will regain its past glory.

    He said that the European Union (EU) aviation safety watchdog had previously decided to retain its ban on PIA from operating in EU member states, expressing its dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the CAA to address licensing and safety concerns. However, recently in March, the EU’s aviation safety watchdog termed safety standards of Pakistan’s CAA as “satisfactory”.

    The decision was made following a two-day meeting of the EU’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and CAA officials, in which representatives from Denmark, Italy and Sweden participated via video-link, he said.
    The minister for aviation said that Quetta and Dera Ismail Khan airports will be upgraded and that eight new planes will be inducted in the fleet of PIA to further improve its performance.

    Taking the floor, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken the initiative of ‘Live Call Programme’ to directly connect with the people and listen to their problems. He said that this step of the prime minister should be appreciated. He further said that the premier is expected to again interact with the people via telephone next week.

    The House was later adjourned to meet again at 4:00 pm on Monday.

  • PIA staffer wins hearts for calming baby on flight

    PIA staffer wins hearts for calming baby on flight

    A picture of a crew member of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) calming a restless baby during a flight recently went viral on social media.  

    Fakhr-e-Alam shared a picture of the head purser on an Islamabad-Karachi flight holding a baby in his arms. 

    The singer shared that the PIA official had come to help an exhausted mother and soothe the crying baby to give her a break.

    “A friend onboard [a] PIA Islamabad to Karachi early morning flight yesterday shared this. A baby was crying non-stop, the mother was exhausted and stressed, she couldn’t comfort the child,” shared Alam.

    “So the head purser Mr Tauheed helped the child sleep. Now that truly is GREAT people to fly with,” added the singer.

    Soon after the singer’s post, social media users started praising the act of kindness.

    People also shared their experience of traveling with PIA.

    https://twitter.com/SSGPA1/status/1370475257849610241?s=20

    Later, in an interview with ARY’s Morning Show Bakhabar Sawera, the officer, Tauheed said that he had no idea he would go viral.

    “I had no idea someone is recording me. I don’t know who took my pictures or made me viral,” said Tauheed, adding: “It is a part of our duty to take care of our passengers. It is a part of our training to ensure their safety on a flight, and take care of their needs.”


  • PIA to restart flight operations to Swat

    PIA to restart flight operations to Swat

    The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to restart flights to Swat, Skardu and Gilgit in order to promote tourism in these areas.

    As per details, Pakistan’s national carrier will resume flight operations to the country’s scenic Swat valley after nearly 17 years from next week, a spokesperson for the airline said on Thursday.

    According to reports, ever since Taliban militants took over Swat, tourism in the picturesque valley was badly affected with flight operations suspended. Army operations to clear out militant safe havens and improved security in recent years have allowed tourism to re-emerge on the Hindu Kush mountain range.

    “PIA is going to resume flight operations to Saidu Sharif, Swat, after 17 years,” said PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan while talking to a local media outlet. The spokesperson added that Swat’s only airport, equipped to handle small ATR-70 aircraft, has been closed since 2004.

    The purpose of resuming the flights now, Khan said, was “to encourage tourism in the region,” adding that “there is huge potential.”

    Khan further said that two weekly flights will also operate from Lahore, with a 15 minute stopover in Islamabad.

    In January 2019, Pakistan loosened travel restrictions in the hope of reviving tourism by offering visas on arrival to visitors from 50 countries and electronic visas to 175 nationalities.

    Pakistan was last a prominent tourist destination in the 1970s when the “hippie trail” brought Western travellers through the apricot and walnut orchards of the Swat Valley and Kashmir on their way to India and Nepal.

    Since then, deteriorating security conditions have prevented tourists and travellers from visiting the country.

    A 2019 Gallup report said tourist traffic at cultural sites in Pakistan had seen an increase of 317 per cent over five years. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s five-day visit to Pakistan in October 2019 also boosted interest in the country as a tourist spot.

  • Pakistan set to get three new airlines

    Pakistan set to get three new airlines

    Q-Airlines, Fly Jinnah and Jet Green Airlines have sought regulatory approval from Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to launch services in the country.

    The CAA has completed the scrutiny of Q-Airlines and Fly Jinnah while Jet Green Airlines is still going through the scrutiny process.

    According to reports, following the completion of due procedure, the applications would be sent to the aviation division and then to the federal cabinet for final approvals.

    After the launch of these three new airlines, it will take the number of private carriers in the country to six, catering to the 217 million population.

    Airblue, SereneAir and AirSial are the three airlines already operating in the country. National carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the largest and oldest carrier.

    It is a compulsion for new carriers to operate domestic flights for at least one year with three aircraft before they are allowed to operate internationally.

    SereneAir has already received necessary approvals from the UAE and Saudi authorities to launch commercial operations with maiden flights to Dubai, Sharjah, Jeddah and Riyadh.

  • Foreign experts to arrive in Pakistan to revive PIA

    A delegation of foreign experts will arrive in Pakistan on Monday (today) to devise a five-year corporate business plan for cash-strapped Pakistan International Airline (PIA).

    According to reports, the four-member team is arriving in Pakistan on the invitation of Dr Ishat Hussain, advisor to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on institutional reforms. They will stay in the country for 12 days to develop the plan for the national carrier.

    The team will review the business model and also meet government officials at the finance ministry as well as the airline’s chief executive officer (CEO), Air Marshal Arshad Malik.

    They will devise a business plan for the airline to make it profitable and sustainable. “We will be following the government’s directives on restructuring and reforms in the airline,” reports quoted them as saying.

    It is pertinent to note that Dr Hussain is supervising the reforms in PIA. Back in November 2019, the airline had sought the services of a reputed international firm with extensive aviation consulting experience to prepare a five-year corporate business plan through a tender.

    The objective was to revive PIA as a leading international airline, and enable it to play an important role in the country’s struggling economy.

  • VIDEO: PIA pilots spot and record UFO above their plane in Karachi

    VIDEO: PIA pilots spot and record UFO above their plane in Karachi

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) pilots have spotted and unidentified flying object (UFO) flying at 35,000 feet above Karachi.

    According to ProPakistani, the “foo fighter” — a term used by Allied aircraft pilots during World War II to describe UFOs or mysterious aerial phenomena seen in the skies over both the European and Pacific theaters of operations — was a white round object above the jet which the plane’s captain noticed on Sunday.

    The flight crew immediately started filming the object and after landing found that similar sightings had been reported in the past across the world.

    The flight captain said that the round object had a metal ring around it and was emitting white light from the center.

    He added that it was difficult to determine whether the object was hovering or moving slowly due to relative motion.

    Sharing the video of the incident, UFO hunter and blogger Scott Waring said that PIA pilots had provided the most focused photo of a foo fighter in the history of UFO research.

    He added that it “proved that aliens follow planes and keep a close eye on human activities”.

    WATCH VIDEO: