PIA privatisation: Unions threatens to close offices from Tuesday

KARACHI (Web Desk) – Pakistan International Airline’s (PIA) Joint Action Committee on Monday announced to close all offices across the country to protest against the government’s decision to privatise the national carrier.

While addressing a press conference, Joint Action Committee’s chief Sohail baloch said that all PIA offices including booking centres and training centres will be closed for a week from Tuesday till February 2.

Sohail said that they are in contact with Civil Aviation, Railway, Steel mills, oil tankers and other institutes and companies’ labour unions and in case of need they all will be with the employees of PIA.

However, the unions made it clear that they won’t roll back strike plan unless uncertainty is removed.

The protest is also seen as a move by the unions to press for inclusion of their representatives in management affairs. This was evident when the unions protested against former managing director Aijaz Haroon in 2011, resulting in his ouster from the office.