Islamabad, Jan 15; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated an investigation into the controversial advertisement promoting Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) new Paris flight route.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar disclosed this directive during a Senate session on PIA’s potential privatisation.
Senator Sherry Rehman voiced concerns about PIA’s future and questioned if the privatisation plan was cancelled or still ongoing.
She also pointed out that only 19 of PIA’s 34 aircraft are currently operational, with the rest grounded. Rehman further criticized the advertisement for its misleading depiction of the airline, which featured a PIA plane near the iconic Eiffel Tower with the tagline “We’re coming.” Rehman argued that this ad created confusion and ridicule, questioning the credibility of the agency behind it and the official who approved it.
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Ishaq Dar confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered an investigation into the advertisement, acknowledging its misleading nature. He highlighted the long-standing issues with PIA’s reputation, recalling the incident involving former minister Sarwar Khan, whose controversial statement led to the suspension of PIA flights in Europe, the UK, and the US. This was in the wake of allegations regarding fake pilots.
Regarding PIA’s fleet, Dar clarified that currently, 22 of its aircraft are operational, while 11 are undergoing repairs. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to privatising PIA, with plans to involve Pakistan’s corporate sector in the process. Additionally, Dar spoke about the ongoing efforts to restore PIA’s flights to the UK, with a team scheduled to arrive by the end of January. The government remains hopeful that flights to the UK could resume by March or April.
Dar also revealed that the earlier statement by the former minister had resulted in an annual loss of Rs87 billion for PIA, further damaging the reputation of Pakistani pilots.
The government’s response to these issues reflects its commitment to address both the public perception of PIA and the airline’s operational challenges, while also working towards its privatisation.
The investigation into the advertisement and efforts to restore flights to key destinations remain a priority for the administration.
