31-March-2010
Speaker Seeks Review of PIA Fares, Night Service from Quetta
QUETTA: Speaker Balochistan provincial assembly Aslam Bhotani has said that PIA fares should be reviewed, saying we are satisfied with PIA schedule in Balochistan but night service should be started and a small plane can be used. He expressed these views while chairing a meeting on PIA fares here the other day.The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, MPAs, PIA authorities and leaders of different parties. Speaker had called PIA and Civil Aviation authorities to his chamber in his ruling on a resolution about PIA fares on March 22. During the meeting Provincial ministers and Members of Provincial Assembly demanded of PIA for just fares and introduction of night service form Quetta. Provincial Minister Aslam Bizenjo asked not to meet its deficit from Balochistan and demanded for introducing more flights for the benefit of the people from this province. He pointed out that fare of Quetta-Karachi sector (370 miles) is Rupees 9800 while that of Karachi-Islamabad route (700 miles) is Rupees 7600. It must be made justified. Provincial Minister Ms Raheela Durrani said that PIA should reduce fares that maximum number of people could travel. She said Balochistan people are very small in PIA which should be increased. She said Quetta is called international airport so in addition to Dubai, flights for other countries should also be started. Mrs Nasreen Khetran, Agha Irfan Karim and Basant Lal Gulshan said that only PIA was operating in Balochistan. They said other private airlines should also introduce their services in the province. It would create an atmosphere of competition to the benefit of the travelers. Balochistan is part of Pakistan. PIA must not commit excesses with its people. Quota for all the MPAs and MNAs should be reserved in all flights. Shaikh Jaffar Mandokhel, Engineering Zamrak, Habibur Rehman Muhammad Hasni and Jan Muhammad Buledi asked for increase in flights between Quetta and Karachi and other cities. Increased fares were causing losses to the people of the province. Injustices with the people continues resulting in anger among the people who then climb to mountains. They said steps to benefit businessmen and traders should also be taken. PIA representative Najam Amin Mirza told the meeting that after Punjab maximum number of flights were being operated from six cities of Balochistan. He said that international flights were being operated from three cities-Quetta-Dubai thrice a week, Turbat-Sharjah four flights a week and Gwadar-Muscat 2 flights per week. He said members of parliament would be briefed on additional fare on Quetta-Karachi route and other complaints in second or third week of April. About fares, he said only such fares are being realized which only meet our expenses.