Opposition is giving hard time to the government regarding Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) privatisation bill in the parliament.
After the stiff opposition in the upper house of the parliament government proposed through a motion in National Assembly to refer Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) bill, 2016, to a joint sitting for consideration. But as it was being expected, government is facing stiff resistance regarding the bill in lower house of the parliament. There are certain concerns not only of the opposition but also the employees of PIA regarding the privatization of PIA.
Initially government tried to pass the bill from National Assembly despite of resistance but due to lack of seats in Senate to pass the bill, it had to come back to National Assembly to get nod of various opposing parties. Now government has also realized that it hard for them to take solo flight, which can also haunt them in the next general elections. Considering these facts it is wise decision to take all political parties on board.
It has to take the opposition into confidence in order to go ahead with its plans of privatising the national flag carrier. Government has formed a 10-member committee to convince the opposition on its proposal.
It has been learnt that PIA has been running into deficit for the last 16 years as its yearly deficit is over Rs. 20 billion. Considering the facts that PIA has become a white elephant due to the failed policies of various regimes over the years, changes required to push PIA from the verge of collapse. There should be a rational approach to rectify those faults that PIA has been facing.
Opposition should support government to find logical solution to the issue of PIA’s privatisation.
