Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a probe into the controversial advertisement for the launch of Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) Paris flights.
This directive was shared by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Tuesday during a Senate session focused on an advisory regarding the privatization of PIA.
Senator Sherry Rehman raised concerns about the future of the airline, questioning whether the privatization plan had been canceled or was still underway. She also pointed out that out of PIA’s 34 aircraft, only 19 are operational, with the rest grounded.
Rehman also criticized the publicity for the Paris flight, which she said had led to public ridicule, questioning the agency responsible for the ad and the official who approved it.
The advert featured a PIA plane near the Eiffel Tower with the slogan “We are coming”, which it said misrepresented the airline’s intentions.
Ishaq Dar confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz had ordered an investigation into the matter, highlighting the misleading nature of the campaign.
He addressed past issues related to PIA’s image, mentioning that a statement by former minister Sarwar Khan had led to PIA’s flights being banned in Europe, the UK and the US, after allegations of fake pilots.
He further said that following this, a committee was formed under the PDM government and efforts to resolve the issue with the British Foreign Secretary were successful.
Regarding the airline’s fleet, Dar noted that 22 aircraft of PIA are currently operational, while 11 are under repair. He confirmed that PIA would be privatized, with the government working to involve Pakistan’s private sector in the process.
Dar also mentioned efforts to reinstate PIA flights to the UK, with a team expected by the end of January. He expressed hope that flights to the UK would resume by March or April.
He pointed out that the former minister’s statement had caused an annual loss of Rs87 billion, and added that an inquiry into the matter had been recommended by the cabinet. This statement, he added, also damaged the reputation of Pakistani pilots.
