Families of PIA crash victims await justice, regret highhandedness

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The families of the victims of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK 8303, which had crashed in Karachi earlier this year, have condemned the highhandedness from the concerned authorities while seeking justice.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan, dated September 22, 2020, whose copy was circulated on social media, some of the affected families have reported having been humiliated at every place where they have gone to seek entitlement during the past four months. 

Members of the affected families had also held a media conference at the Karachi Press Club a few months ago to bring to light their sufferings at the hands of the concerned departments when receiving the bodies of their loved ones.

It may be recalled that the PIA’s scheduled domestic flight from Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore to Jinnah International Airport in Karachi had crashed just before landing in the densely populated area of Model Colony on that fateful afternoon of May 22, 2020. 

The Airbus A320 in use perished a few kilometres from the runway, while on a second approach after a failed landing. Of the 91 passengers and 8 crew on board the aircraft (99 onboard), 97 were killed, and two passengers survived with injuries. Eight people on the ground were also reported to have been injured in the accident and one of them reportedly later died from injuries.

Complete debris of crashed PIA plane finally removed

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

All debris of PIA crashed plane, of what turned out to be a Herculean task, was finally completed on June 10. In the final phase the A-320 engine was lifted from the site of the crashed plane in Karachi’s densely populated area of Model Colony. 

It may be recalled that on May 22, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight 8303, while flying from Lahore, crashed minutes away from the Jinnah International Terminal in Karachi, killing all but two out of 99 passengers on board. One of the lucky survivors was a senior executive officer of a private bank. 

The final task of removing all debris was completed on June 10 after 19 days of the crash as all the damaged parts of the ill-fated aircraft were transported to a site allocated near Karachi airport. 

The Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA), during the next couple of days, is expected to commence the assessment of the damage caused to the houses on which the plane fell down.

The Federal Minister for Aviation, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, has announced on the floor of the National Assembly, that the government will compensate not only the passengers on board the crashed plane but also those having their properties damaged on the ground as well as the ones who died or sustained injuries. 

As per reports, there were three persons including a housemaid to have received critical burn injuries when the aircraft crashed into the houses. The maid was later reported to have succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.

More Pakistani students set to return from Wuhan on June 5

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The government has put all arrangements in place to bring back more Pakistani students from China on board national flag carrier. 

The PIA Special flight PK-8872 to leave Wuhan to Islamabad on June 5 to bring back home 300 students, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced. 

These students have remained stranded for five months in Wuhan, the epicenter of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

This is going to be the second batch of Pakistani students from Wuhan returning home. Earlier on May 18 the first batch of Pakistani students were repatriated by PIA’s special flight that departed from Tianhe Airport Wuhan on board 274 returning Pakistani students from Wuhan in Hubei province to Islamabad.

Crashed PIA plane’s Cockpit Voice Recorder retrieved

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

It was a big sigh of relief for the relatives as well as the investigation team of the May 22 PIA plane crash as the Cockpit Voice Recorder, the most important component that could greatly help in the probe, was finally retrieved by the authorities on May 28.

It took as many as six days after the plane had crashed in Karachi to locate the recorder from the debris, with the assistance of the Airbus investigation team. 

According to PIA spokesman, the Airbus investigation team had resumed its task to salvage the Cockpit Voice Recorder on May 28 and finally it succeeded after removal of big parts of the plane with the help of heavy cranes. The Cockpit Voice Recorder has been handed over to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board. 

The PIA spokesman added that the airline team made all out efforts for the recovery of the Cockpit Voice Recorder, deemed to be one of the most important components that could help greatly in finding causes of the plane crash. 

The French investigation team, having already extended its stay in Pakistan, spent a busy third day while inspecting the crash site. They carried out special inspection of the damaged houses. 

Out of 97 deaths, the bodies of 49 persons have been identified so far and 44 of them were handed over to heirs. 

Meanwhile, the PIA and aviation officials have given initial briefing on the air crash at Karachi to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Overseas Chinese hail their government policies

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan, Yao Jing, through a video session, extended Eid greeting to all Muslim overseas and the Chinese living in Pakistan besides offering condolences on PIA plane crash.

The participants included the top officials of the Rawalpindi Chinese Association, the Gilgit-Baltistan Chinese Association, the Pakistan Chinese Youth Overseas Chinese Association and the Pakistan Overseas Chinese Association. Ambassador Yao Jing introduced the relevant situation of China-Pakistan anti-epidemic cooperation. 

He pointed out that in the early stage of China’s epidemic prevention and control, Pakistan had actively donated anti-epidemic materials to China. 

“After the outbreak epidemic in Pakistan, China donated a large volume of anti-epidemic materials to Pakistan and sent a number of anti-epidemic medical expert groups to assist Pakistan in anti-epidemic drive,” he narrated. 

“The two countries have cooperated closely to fight against the epidemic and fully demonstrated that the friendship between China and Pakistan is unbreakable. In order to better serve the overseas Chinese in Pakistan, the Chinese Embassy has taken a number of measures,” the Ambassador said. 

“Firstly the Pakistani government was provided with testing reagents, masks, protective clothing and other anti-epidemic materials. Secondly close contacts and communication with the various overseas Chinese delegations were maintained. Thirdly multiple online health consultations took place from China. Then the overseas Chinese were provided with a health package and caring package besides coordination with the Bading Point Hospital to treat any confirmed overseas Chinese in a timely manner and actively develop consuls,” he explained.

The overseas Chinese leaders spoke one after another, expressing their profound gratitude to the Chinese government and embassy in Pakistan for their care, care and help for the vast number of overseas Chinese in Pakistan. 

The Uighur national leaders, Nasir Khan and Kyoumu, said that under the leadership and command of President Xi Jinping, China has achieved a major victory in the new crown epidemic prevention and control campaign and actively carried out international anti-epidemic cooperation making the Uighur and overseas Chinese extremely proud. 

Since the outbreak, the embassy in Pakistan has provided Uighur and overseas Chinese with anti-epidemic materials such as medicines, masks, and daily life materials including rice, flour and cooking oil to ease the living difficulties of the overseas Chinese and make the Uighur overseas Chinese feel the warmth and care from their home country. 

The overseas Chinese leaders also expressed their support for the 13th National People's Congress's review of the ‘Decision of the National People's Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Maintain National Security’ and believed that the decision (draft) was necessary for legislative actions to safeguard national sovereignty and implement ‘one country, two systems are of great significance to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. 

They reckoned that Hong Kong was a special administrative region of China and its affairs were China's internal affairs. 

The overseas Chinese compatriots in Pakistan firmly supported the Chinese government in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and resolutely opposed foreign forces interfering in the affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Cockpit voice recorder of crashed PIA plane yet to be recovered

By Masood Sattar Khan

(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The cockpit voice recorder of the crashed PIA plane has yet not been recovered from the debris scattered on narrow lanes of the crash site located in the Karachi’s densely populated area of Model Colony in the close proximity of airport. 

The black box of the plane, which crashed on May 22, has however been retrieved and sent to the Airbus headquarters in France for decoding, the aviation sources disclosed. 

A spokesman of the national carrier has appealed to the people that if they found any part of the crashed plane they should handover the same to the concerned authorities. 

The 11-member Airbus investigating team, having reached Karachi, will resume their investigation by visiting the crash site on May 27. 

The French team, on May 26, inspected the damaged houses, debris and the runway which the captain of the ill-fated plane, Sajjad Gul, reportedly used for an abortive landing.

The team checked the run and apron from different angles. They asked questions like how many times the plane was grounded in a year and if repair on plane was done.

They also collected information about how many times the landing gear repair was carried out besides its maintenance on technical ground. 

They sought the names of the engineers having performed the repair work. The French team was provided with the one year performance record of the plane. 

The unfortunate plane crash claimed all but two fortunate passengers who survived miraculously. So far out of 97 dead, the identity of 44 passengers has been established. Squadron Leader Zain-ul-Arif Khan’s body was among those identified through DNA. 

Meanwhile, the Interior Minister, Ejaz Shah, visited the residence of captain of the PIA crashed plane, Sajjad Gul, and expressed condolence with his father. “Sajjaid Gul tried his best till the end but unfortunately nature had other ideas,” he noted. The father of the deceased pilot has appealed to refrain from such statement that can hurt family feelings. 

The Sindh Governor, Imran Ismail, visited Civil Hospital Karachi and enquired the welfare of the injured persons. He assured that the government will carry out repair of the damaged houses.

Queen Elizabeth grieved over PIA plane crash

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

Queen Elizabeth II has offered condolences to Pakistan and families of those having died in the PIA plane crash in Karachi on May 22.

“Prince Philip and I have been saddened by the news of the plane crash near Karachi on Friday (May 22). We send our most sincere condolences to you, the families and friends of those who died, and to the Pakistani people, particularly at the time of Eid,” Queen Elizabeth wrote. 

The British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, and the British High Commissioner, Christian Turner, were also grieved by the tragic PK8303 plane crash in Karachi. 

“I’m deeply saddened to hear of the plane crash and loss of life in Karachi and my thoughts are with all those affected in this terrible tragedy,” Dominic Raab remarked in his message.

“Thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones. The British High Commission was in touch with local authorities to establish if any Britons were on board,” High Commissioner Christian Turner stated.

34 bodies of PIA plane crash identified, handed over to families

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh health department announced on May 24 that as many as 34 bodies of PIA crashed airplane have been identified and all of them handed over to their respective families. 

Meanwhile the provincial minister for health and population welfare, Dr Azra Pechuho, said that Sindh has its own forensic/genome laboratory at Karachi University where the DNA sampling of all unidentified plan crash victims was being carried out. 

“We also have another laboratory at the Liaquat University in Jamshoro which has the capacity of conducting the DNA sampling,” she added.

NADRA collect thumb impression of PIA plane crash victims

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A technical team of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has been entrusted with the responsibility of the identification of victims of PIA plane crash in Karachi through thumb impression. 

An announcement from the NADRA authorities revealed that most of the deaths, in the PIA plane crash at Karachi on May 22, were caused due to severe fire and their bodies were difficult to identify. 

The NADRA team had promptly started undertaking its task as they took thumb impression of three victims on the spot. Out of three, they had identified two of them, the announcement said.

97 dead, only two survive PIA plane crash

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

According to the final plane crash figures provided by the Sindh health department late on May 22, only two persons survived and the remaining 97 were confirmed to have died.

Sajjad Gul was the pilot of the plane while Usman Azam was the first officer. Farid Ahmed Chaudhary, Abdul Qayyum Ashraf, Malik Irfan Rafiq, Madeeha Erum, Amna Irfan and Asma Shahzadi were the other members of the crew on board. 

There were a total of 99 people on board the unfortunate PIA flight which crashed into houses near the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The only two survivors were Zafar Masud and Muhammad Zubair. 

The department officials revealed that 66 bodies were brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) while the remaining 31 were taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK). Only 19 of the 97 bodies could be identified. 

The media coordinators of the department continued updating the information of casualties since late afternoon until releasing the final tally late at night.

Meanwhile the Additional IG Karachi has nominated Junaid Ahmed, SSP, Korangi, as the central focal person for DNA collection and matching while DSP Rustam Nawaz and DSP Aftab Alam have been appointed as the focal person at the CHK and the JPMC respectively.

World leaders condole tragic plane crash in Karachi

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Many international leaders took to social media to express their shock and grief as the news of the plane crash in Karachi on May 22 spread like wildfire. 

The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, offered condolences, saying that Canadians were keeping Pakistanis in their thoughts. 

“The news from Pakistan this morning is devastating. To the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the crash of PK 8303, and to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy, our hearts go out to you. Canadians are keeping you in our thoughts today,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle. 

The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also expressed his condolences over the tragic incident, tweeting: “Deeply saddened by the loss of life due to a plane crash in Pakistan. Our condolences to the families of the deceased, and wishing speedy recovery to those injured.” 

The Afghanistan President, Ashraf Ghani, tweeted: “My heart goes out to the families of victims who lost their lives in the PIA plane crash in Karachi. I offer my sincere commiserations to the people and the government of Pakistan. Afghans stand with you in this moment of grief.” 

The Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, in his message, extended condolences to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and the country's people over passenger plane crash which killed dozens on board and ground. He also expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.

PIA plane crashes in Karachi's residential area

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane which was coming from Lahore crashed in Karachi on May 22 with 98 people on board which included seven crew members. 

Flight PK 8303 went down at Jinnah Garden in Model Colony, a residential area in the vicinity of the Jinnah International Airport as the Airbus A-320 plane, carrying 91 passengers and seven crew members, was approaching the runway. 

According to the initial report released by the Sindh health department, 66 people were confirmed to have died as a result of the tragic incident while the list shared by the airlines mentioned that there were 51 men, 31 women and nine children aboard the aircraft. 

The airline officials stated that the pilot had reported technical issues while the witnesses said that the aircraft, flying from Lahore, attempted to land two or three times before hitting a mobile tower and crashing into houses of the densely populated residential area near the airport. 

The Bank of Punjab (BOP), Chief Executive, Zafar Masud, was among the lucky passengers to have survived the crash. He was taken to a nearby hospital for a first-aid from where he was moved to another hospital where his condition was declared stable by the doctors. Later he was visited by the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah. 

The other fortunate survivor Muhammad Zubair was also found in a stable condition as he appeared in a television interview, narrating the tales of horror of the passengers of the ill-fated plane.

China grieved over PIA plane crash

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

China declared on May 22 to be standing by Pakistan side in the time of Sadness following passenger plane crashed in Karachi. 

“We have learned with heavy heart that a PIA plane crashed close to Karachi Airport,” the Chinese embassy at Islamabad said in a statement. 

“Our hearts go out to all families who lost their loved one today,” the statement added. 

Meanwhile, both electronic and print media in China highlighted the plane crash news with heavy heart.

There were conflicting reports about the plane crash that had left Lahore for Karachi. The plane was schedule to land around 1430 hours at the Jinnah International Airport where it crashed just a minute before landing. 

The initial reports suggested that the crash took place because of the alleged failure of functioning of landing gear as well as being hit by birds to both of aircraft engines.

Aviation ministry to probe PIA plane crash

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The deeply saddened Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Air Marshal Arshad Malik, announced that the ministry of aviation would oversee the inquiry into the PIA plane crash on May 22.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, where the national carrier's afternoon flight, coming from Lahore, crashed just before landing at the Jinnah International Airport, emphatically declared that the aircraft was technically sound. 

"The aviation ministry will oversee an inquiry into the incident. We want the inquiry report to be completed as soon as possible but we cannot say when. We do not wish to interfere with the inquiry in any way. We will need two to three days to complete the operation," he said, adding that his team stood with the government of Pakistan, the armed forces, and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). 

The PIA chief confirmed that 99 people, including passengers and air crew, were aboard the flight and he had reports of 19 dead in Civil Hospital and 22 in other hospitals at the time of the press conference. 

He revealed that the pilot had established a final landing approach and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) control room gave him a green signal to go ahead.

"The pilot then did a go-around saying he’s preparing for a second approach. Now what was the reason for the go-around? Please do not have any suspicions or doubts. Nothing can be said till the black box is retrieved," he stated. 

"Something happened there and there can only be ambiguities until we receive the voice and data recorders. I say this with responsibility that when it is received, we'll know whether there was a technical fault, some other issues, some outside activity or bird hit,” the Air Marshal added. 

"When the plane lowered down, the ATC asked the pilot if there was an issue and the pilot responds, 'Yes, I am facing a problem,' after which the communication gets cut off,” he revealed. 

The PIA helmsman declared that the families of the victims were welcome to come and stay at the airport hotels which had been vacated. “All affected persons are going to be accommodated in airport hotels and other government facilities in Qasr-e-Naz," he said. 

"The plane crash-landed in a street; there was damage to the nearby houses but thankfully no building collapsed," he noted.

General Body meeting of PIA Retired Employees Association (PIAREA)

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The PIA Chief has assured the PIA's retired employees 

that their pension will be increased in near future'

This was disclosed by General Secretary PIA Retired Employees Association 

(PIAREA) while addressing the  General Body meeting of the association.

He informed the members of some of the PIAREA achievements gained after 

a long struggle which included increase in PIA pension in 2013, free medical 

facilities for disabled sons/daughters of Retirees, abolition of Federal Excise 

Duty (FED) on free tickets to issued to Retirees, extension of medical facilities etc. 

He said successful efforts were made against proposed  privatization of PIA,

Earlier, he informed that no one will be appointed as Association's office-bearer 

for whole of life in future whereas efforts while efforts will continue to seek more

facilities for retired employees..

At the meeting, presided over by Chairman, PIAREA Zulfikar Ali, the newly elected 

unopposed office bearers of PIAREA, also took oath as office bearers. 

On the occasion the General Body also approved the Annual Report unanimously. 

and expressed their full cooperation in the PIAREA's struggle for restoration of  their 

rights .

The newly elected office bearers who took oath were;

Senior. Vice President: Chaudhry Muhammad Azam, Vice Presidents: Parvez Farid

Muhammad Aslam Malik, Mohammad Khan Sial, General Secretary: Syed Tahir 

Hasan Chiefy. Organizing Secretary: Shaikh Abdul Majeed, Finance Secretary: 

Rehman Khilji, Welfare Secretary: Nisar Ahmed and  Joint Secretary: Muhammad Yousaf

New office bearers of PIAREA declared

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chairman, Election Commission of the PIA Retired Employees Association (PIAREA), Najamul Ghani, has announced the final list of the candidates upon the completion of the election procedure. 

According to the notification of the new office bearers of the PIAREA, having been elected unopposed for a term of three years, M Yunus Kakakhel will be the President and Syed Tahir Hasan will be the General Secretary. 

Chaudhry Muhammad Azam has elected as the Senior Vice President, Parvez Farid, Muhammad Aslam Malik and Mohammad Khan Sial are the three Vice Presidents while Shaikh Abdul Majeed has been elected as the Organizing Secretary.

Abdul Rahman Khilji, Nisar Ahmed and Muhammad Yousuf have been elected to the posts of Finance Secretary, Welfare Secretary and Joint Secretary respectively. 

The PIA Retired Employees Association (PIAREA) is a registered body of retired and ex-employees of all sections and departments of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), from Pay Group I to X and above.

PIA achieves profit for third month running

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

National Carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has achieved an operating profit of Rs.738 million in November 2012 after having suffered losses of Rs.1272 million in the corresponding period last year. 

The airline earned the profit despite difficult economic conditions, fierce competition, rising fuel prices, foreign exchange losses and law and order situation, PIA said. 

It was for the third month running that there was significant increase in the airline’s revenue income due to, what was described as, dynamic policies of the present management which made the airline to achieve operating income since September this year. 

Although the airline faced a tough year yet successfully pushed its business forward in different areas with the credit attributed to the employees who made the airline to leap forward despite challenging times. 

The Managing Director, Mohammad Junaid Yunus, described it a testimony of the efforts of everyone connected with the airline. 

Explaining, he said PIA made successful Hajj operation this year and carried 98,000 hajjis achieving 96 percent flight regularity and winning punctuality awards from Saudi Civil Aviation Authorities. 

PIA’s operational profits during the last two months, demonstrated that the airline is able to achieve higher levels of profitability, he remarked. 

Having a forward look for the next year, Junaid Yunus believed that opportunity exists to continue on improving the financial health of the airline and it is satisfying to see the airline making progress and the efforts being made laying the foundation for the company's future. 

He said the focus of the present management is on cost reduction, improvement, and expansion in network, yield and revenue. 

Robust business plan for transformation is the roadmap for going forward, he said adding that it will be a long, winding and difficult journey requiring unleashing of talents by all the employees with support and patronage from valuable customers. 

He hoped the business transformation plan will transform the airline into a strong, dynamic and vibrant institution, aggressively bracing new opportunities and absorbing external shocks. 

According to him, the induction of new aircrafts in PIA fleet would be the turning point for the airline as it will be the foundation of being able to deliver cost cutting on fuel and improve punctuality and regularity bringing back the confidence of the customers. 

He asserted that these aircrafts should have been introduced more than a decade back since the centre of PIA’s network is short haul operations (within four hours) which comprises 64 percent of total operations, the newer aircraft if brought earlier would have been cardinal for the airlines financial conditions revival.

PIA acquiring new aircrafts through transparent tender process

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The immediate goal before the PIA management is to bring down the average age of its fleet and improve reliability and punctuality with on time departures and arrivals besides providing world class customer service. 

A PIA Spokesman informed the PNFS on December 6 that the airline, under the present management which barely had few weeks, has started a process of fleet modernization and revamping of its entire service to achieve turn around in shortest possible time with its new business model. 

"Already the airline has entered the operating profit during the last two months-September–October 2012,” he disclosed. 

He clarified that PIA has not finalized particular type of aircrafts, adding that tenders have been floated for acquiring five narrow body aircraft with delivery of at least four in first and the fifth one in the second quarter of 2013 so as to cope with the capacity shortfall. 

PIA has received offers for both Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800. However, A320 offers are larger in number as compared to Boeing 737-800. Presently, these offers are being evaluated and no final decision regarding induction of either narrow-body aircraft has been finalized. 

He made it clear that the tender for these aircrafts has not yet been awarded and the evaluation process was still not complete. It is, therefore, premature to assume which aircraft or engine type will be inducted. 

“Speculative reports create undue bias for evaluators and they may not be in the best interest of the national airline,” the spokesman felt. 

He said it was for the first time in PIA’s history that their Managing Director, Mohammad Junaid Yunus, invited Transparency International Pakistan to monitor the bidding process. 

In addition to TIP, representative of the Ministry of Defence, Employees’ Unions including SAEP were also present in the financial and technical bid opening process while TIP was taken onboard during the evaluation process relating to not just this tender but in fact all future tenders would be forwarded to TIP for scrutiny. 

According to him, PIA was spending 55 percent of its revenue on fuel. Newer an aircraft provided fuel savings up to 50% for a route flown as well as lower maintenance costs. 

PIA’s 63 percent operation is on short haul routes, within four hours of flight time. 

He said PIA is following a clear point-based system where points are awarded based on fleet commonality and availability of present apparatus for overhaul of engines. 

The spokesman said that PIA would not go for one criterion, especially with the rapid advances in technology in aviation. What matters is the cost benefit analysis of these aircraft and therefore financial cost and availability of these aircraft also play an important role, he said adding that PIA cannot afford to wait years on end to suit the schedule of a particular vendor or manufacturer. 

It is pertinent to mention that any further delay in the induction of new aircraft will result in the delay of the turn around of the airline, which was noted by the Board of Directors and Government Pakistan, he concluded.

MoU for energy conservation signed between PIA and KESC

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Managing Director PIA, Mohammed Junaid Yunus has said that the airline management is committed to implement Energy Conservation Program, not due to high energy cost, but as a social responsibility for rational power use.  

He was speaking at the MoU signing ceremony between the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) for Energy Conservation held at the PIA Headquarters in Karachi on December 5.

The MoU was signed by Capt Junaid for PIA while Tabiss Gohar signed for KESC. He said that PIA’s Green Team is working for Safe Environment for future and the saving achieved will help minimize cost, time and resources.

"We are committed to protect the environment and comply with environmental laws, regulations and methods of conservation,” he remarked. Speaking on the occasion, CEO KESC Tabish Gohar described PIA a potential customer of KESC and said the power utility looks forward for strengthening the existing relationship between the two organizations.  

KESC, he assured, will fully corporate with PIA in saving energy cost through cost cutting measures. Although it may reduce KESC's revenue but saving of important resource will be of great benefit, he added.

KESC's Director Energy Conservation, Asif Siddiqi, in his remarks, pointed out that that PIA would save 30 percent in its electric bills by introducing energy conservation programme at its Head Office and Training Centre.

It may be mentioned here that PIA is currently spending about Rs 50 million a month on power consumption at its head Office and Training Centre and by implementing energy conservation plan it is expected to save around Rs.200 million annually in its electricity bills.

MD PIA Junaid Yunus explained that the PIA Green Team has worked tremendously on power conservation during the last couple of years which saved Rs 7 million in diesel consumption last year despite rising cost of diesel.

He said PIA saved another Rs 3 million in one month as compared to September 2011 by rationalizing office timings.

He assured KESC of full cooperation during Energy Audits and also for technical collaboration in matters of energy and environment conservation.