Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to discuss a long-awaited salary increment for its employees during an HR Committee meeting in Karachi today (Friday). If approved, the proposal will be forwarded to the airline’s Board of Directors for final approval.
According to reports, PIA employees have not received a salary raise since 2015, despite the airline’s ongoing financial struggles. The decision, if implemented, would mark a significant step toward addressing employee concerns amid the airline’s broader challenges.
Privatization Efforts Face Roadblocks
Meanwhile, efforts to privatize the loss-making national carrier remain stalled. A Rs. 10 billion bid for the airline was recently rejected, further delaying the process.
Privatization Minister Aleem Khan has attributed the failure to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), which refused to waive GST on the purchase of new aircraft. The privatization process, which began in November 2023, was initiated to address PIA’s mounting losses, which currently stand at Rs. 830 billion.
The matter is now awaiting review by the federal cabinet, as the government seeks solutions to revive the struggling airline while balancing employee demands and privatization goals.
