KARACHI: The pilots strike has entered the sixth consecutive day, cancelling more than 70 flights as deadlock between the PIA authorities and Palpa continued.
The government has rejected most of the demands put forward by the airline’s pilots association to end the standoff on pay and other working conditions after two days of failed talks. PIA has suffered a loss of Rs500 million so far due to the standoff.
A spokesman for the Aviation Division termed Palpa’s demands as “unjustified” and “not acceptable to PIA management”. PIA officials have said national airline will take all necessary measures to end the shortage of pilots.
The pilots’ body, in a separate statement, asked the prime minister to intervene in the standoff. “We request the honourable prime minister to take notice of the situation and hear us out as the egos of those involved in discussion with us seem bigger than the national airline and national interest which is deteriorating the situation further,” said Capt Amir Hashmi, president of Palpa, in the statement.
