PIA to revise fare prices for stranded Pakistanis amid pandemic lockdown
Wednesday April 22, 2020
Karachi: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arshad Malik has directed the airline’s officials to revise travel fares for facilitating Pakistanis stranded abroad amid the country’s going pandemic lockdown, a news source reported. Read: Sindh govt divides Karachi markets in 13 sectors for reopening on rotational basis As per the publication, the PIA CEO ordered that the fare costs should be aimed at meeting the operational costs of the flights. A PIA spokesperson further informed that the PIA’s commercial department had also been directed to penalize those allegedly involved in overcharging Pakistani passengers stuck in foreign countries. Read: Sindh Coronavirus Fund receives PKR 3.14bn in donations Meanwhile, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan held a meeting with PIA CEO Arshad Malik and discussed the relief operation aimed at helping stranded Pakistanis. The minister was informed that the PIA, apart from bringing Pakistanis back home, was also flying foreign citizens and expatriates back to their own respective countries. Read: Small business owners request Sindh govt to reopen markets for limited hours The minister was also informed about the safety protocols implemented to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other critical aspects of the flights and fares involved in the operation. In addition, the PIA CEO took the opportunity to assure the minister that he would be investigating the claims that the national airline was charging high fares due to high operational costs.
