PIA holds shareholders meeting to discuss privatisation plans

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) held a shareholders meeting on Tuesday with a  one-point agenda over its privatisation.

The meeting was presided over by Ghiasuddin Ahmed, Member PIACL Board of Directors after chairman Azam Saigol tendered his resignation a day earlier.

Acting CEO PIA, Mr. Bernd Hildenbrand along with senior officials of the airline were also present at the meeting.

The meeting came after a PIA PK-661 ATR aircraft crashed near Havelian last week, killing all 47 on board.

Following the air crash the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ordered grounding PIA's entire ATR fleet and announced a shakedown check of the aircrafts.

According to a statement issued by the airline's spokesman Danyal Gilani, shareholders were informed about PIACL’s performance during the last one year and about airline's regularity which is now more than 95% and punctuality which is now at around 85%.

Shareholders were also apprised about PIA Premier service, new routes and destinations being added along with efforts being made for improving service standards, the statement added.

Earlier this year in February, two people were killed as employees of the PIA protested and boycotted duties over proposed privatisation of the national carrier.

Since then the plans to privatise the national carrier have taken a backseat.