Feb 06 , 2016
News
Don’t politicise PIA privatisation, Pervaiz tells opposition
APP
ISLAMABAD: Senator Pervaiz Rashid, federal minister for information, broadcasting and national heritage, said on Saturday that the government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) always respected the mandate of other political parties and never interfered in their affairs. He said that opposition political parties were not reciprocating this policy of the PML-N, especially in the case of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was introducing reforms in the health sector despite opposition from doctors. Since it was a legitimately elected government, the federal government did not interfere in its affairs, he said.
Political parties should have reciprocated such policies of the PML-N, but they are interfering in the affairs of the federal government by politicising the PIA privatisation issue, Rashid said while speaking at the first anniversary of a news channel in Lahore. He said that elected governments had to make their decisions by themselves as public gave them mandate for reforms.
The minister said he received numerous calls from people during the last three days who suffered due to the strike of the PIA employees. People could not reach their destinations due to the ongoing strike, he added. Rashid said the PIA was a service-oriented organisation and common people were suffering due to the suspension of its services. He said that PIA’s assets were eroding. He said the government wanted to revive the PIA; therefore, it increased the number of its aircraft from 18 to 38. On the contrary, he said, some 700 employees were performing duties against one plane in the past.
The minister said the government was committed to reviving all non-profitable organisations. He said that previous governments did nothing for the revival of the national flag carrier. He said that majority of the PIA shares would remain with the government despite its privatisation.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk