Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Friday informed the Senate that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) losses have surged to Rs 416 billion, adding that efforts are being made to acquire more aircraft on dry lease to enhance the flight operations.
Responding to various questions during the question hour, the minister said only non-commercially viable routes have been closed while the viable ones are being opened. He said domestic and international flights have been reduced due to shortage of aircraft. Currently, PIA is operating its flights on 18 international routes, including UK, Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Iraq, Qatar, China, Malaysia, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Thailand and Canada, he said.
To a supplementary question, the minister said construction of airport in Mansehra is mere a political announcement and no funds have been allocated for it. He said more flights will be operated for Quetta after acquiring aircraft besides resuming air traffic to Saidu Sharif.
To another question, the House was informed that the Chinese government has agreed to provide 100 per cent grant of Rs 35.27 billion for the construction of Gwadar International Airport. The constructed work is expected to begin by June this year by the Chinese contractor and the project is scheduled to be completed in 36 months.
Meanwhile, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Khan Swati apprised the Senate that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has neither signed any contract for monitoring of internet traffic with any vendor nor is spending public money on the project. Replying to a question during the question hour, the minister said that in compliance with the statutory and policy obligations, the PTA has directed the telecom industry to deploy a suitable technical solution capable of monitoring, analyzing and curbing grey traffic. The said monitoring system will be termed as ‘Web Monitoring System (WMS)’. The contract has signed between relevant telecom operators and the vendor without involvement of public money, he said. All LDIs (long distance and international), CMOs (cellular mobile operators) and submarine cable landing station licensees are sharing the cost of the system under their regulatory obligations, he added. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan told the Senate that Pakistan has constructed Quaid-Azam Hospital in Kabul with estimated cost of $24 million and another hospital is being constructed in hometown of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Logar.
Replying to various supplementary questions, the minister said Pakistan has also set up a kidney centre in Afghanistan, adding that the hospital in Logar will cost $19 million. Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Friday expressed resentment over continuous absence of members from the session. He announced to write a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan to inform him about the non-serious behavior of the senators. He said that the members should change their attitude and attend the proceedings.