PIA’s JAC ends strike, announces resumption of flight operations

KARACHI: Chairman Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA,) Sohail Baloch on Tuesday announced that they are putting an end to a two-week long protest strike with immediate effect.

Announcing the decision at a press conference here, Baloch said he has issued directives to the concerned authorities to resume PIA's flight operations from today. He said the JAC cannot remain negligent to the safety of the planes while the government has also expressed its concerns regarding the hardships being faced by the passengers.

Without taking any name, he said, all the issues were resolved due to the intervention of a ‘kind friend’.

Sohail Baloch said he along with his team is leaving here today for Lahore where he said was scheduled to meet the government representatives including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

He said the strike continued for 16 days during which three of their fellow employees embraced martyrdom. “We pay tribute to the martyrs,” he said, adding, it will be made sure that their sacrifice does not go in vain.

The JAC chairman hoped the interaction with the government representatives will result in progress on matters highlighted during the strike.

The prolonged strike by the JAC saw suspension of flight operations, causing hardships to the passengers in general and the Umrah pilgrims in particular.