PIA offers significant fare reduction for Umrah pilgrims

Islamabad: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a substantial reduction of Rs11,000 in fares for Umrah pilgrims.

According to the PIA spokesperson, this fare reduction notification will remain applicable until August 10.

The spokesperson mentioned that the fare from Faisalabad to Madinah and Jeddah has been reduced from Rs112,000 to Rs100,800. Furthermore, the national airline has also decreased the round-trip fares for Madinah and Jeddah.

In a recent development, the Supreme Court has granted permission to the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to hire pilots, cabin crew, and IT specialists. During the proceedings, the court emphasized the need for a clear and transparent recruitment process.

Justice Ayesha inquired about the financial difficulties faced by PIA, questioning the necessity of hiring more personnel. Justice Ahsan highlighted the subpar quality of services provided by the airline and expressed concern about the additional burden of over Rs90 million annually due to the new recruitments.

In response, PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat informed the court that the national airline had generated a profit of Rs3 billion in the last six months and was operating profitable flights on both international and domestic routes.

Justice Ahsan raised a query regarding the staff size compared to other airlines and sought clarification on whether the recruitment would be on a permanent or contractual basis. The CEO clarified that the recruitment would be on a one-year renewable contractual basis.

After hearing the arguments presented by the CEO and additional attorney general, the apex court granted permission to hire 205 employees, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining transparency throughout the process.