Daily Times

Lahore: Social media users including leaders of opposition parties took to the Twitter on Monday to express their shock at Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) decision to end flights to New York.

PPP MNA Nafisa Shah? said, “Sad day 4Pk as #PIA’s most prized route 2NewYork is suspended. What #PMLN has done 2national airline is unforgivable”.

MQM leader Senator Tahir Mashhadi? tweeted, “Ali Raza Abidi spoke in Senate on closure of PIA New York flight. It is conspiracy to sell off PIA Roosevelt Hotel at throwaway price.”

PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi? tweeted, “#PIA stops its #US #FlightOperations. For all those who believed that #PMLN was not behind the plot to bring down #PIA, here’s the proof!”

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman? said, “Sorry to say that @Official_PIA was cannibalised for the Premier Service that lost 800 billion. Now the last route to USA being shut down”.

Some users noted that while the PIA was ending its operations, a private airline owned by the Prime Minister was started operations for the US. Awais Iqbal tweeted, “PIA suspends flight for New York. Air Blue announces flights for New York. Well Done Shahid Khakan Abbasi.”

Reports about the government’s decision to allow another bailout package of Rs13 billion for the national carrier were also discussed on the social media site.

PTI’s official twitter account tweeted,? “Pak Steel Mills employees are unpaid since past 5 months. PIA also in loss & Gov spends money on ministers’ flight to UK”.

Shehryar Taseer? said, “#PIA all set to get 13b bailout package-without a business plan discussed with the shareholders (tax payers) this is more good money after bad”.

PTI leader Mohammad Sarwar? said, “Concerned & sad to see corruption / political influences ruining our state institutions esp PIA. Only solution is accountability/meritocracy”

Others took a more aggressive position and demanded that the airline should be privatised once and for all to deal with its problems.

Twitter user Saqeena Quasim? said, “Why doesn’t the govt thinks of shutting down a faction that not only bears liabilities, but draws internal funding too!”

Twitter user Emran Brohi? said, “After this huge bailout package PIA will be given to Khaqan Abbasis AIR BLUE as gift exgracias”

User Zeeshan M.K. said, “This airline should be named #TheBlackHole 🙂 #Pakistan @PIA”

Another user Javed Khan? tweeted, “It is better to close PIA permanently. At least amount given for bail out package will be saved because it goes in pocket of corrupt staff”.

The last PIA flight for the US landed at New York’s JFK International Airport late on Sunday night.

The flight had left Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport early morning on Saturday.

The airline has decided to end operations on the route citing consistent losses suffered in operations. A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) scheduled for this week is likely to approve an Rs13 billion bailout package for the airline. The package is meant to enable the airline to meet its running expenses.

Published in Daily Times, October 31^st 2017.