Passengers left stranded as PIA pilots go on strike

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of passengers, mostly Haj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia, were left stranded today as about 50 flights of Pakistan's ailing national carrier PIA were cancelled after the pilots went on strike, demanding better pay and working conditions.

The pilots association of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) went on strike yesterday, accusing the management of forcing them to do extra duties.

Pakistan Air Lines Pilots Association (Palpa) representative Captain Amir Hashmi alleged that the PIA management is insensitive to the problems of the pilots and is forcing them to work without taking into consideration their rest time.

"We are just going by the book," he said.

An official of PIA said the pilots called in sick at the last moment which resulted in the cancellation of at least 50 domestic and international flights.

PIA Chairman Nasser N Jaffer accused Palpa of causing inconvenience to the passengers as they called the strike when the airline needs to operate at full capacity due to rush of Haj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at a press conference, he appealed to the pilots to discuss their grievances with the management.

A government official said that PIA is trying to negotiate with the pilots to call off the strike.

According to a PIA official carrying out negotiations with Palpa, the airline was currently paying about Rs 3.2 billion to the pilots as salary and perks annually.

He claimed that Palpa had demanded an increase in their salary and better working conditions.

The ailing PIA is already causing billions of rupees of loses to the government and the strike will add to its economic woes.