Daily Times

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has held a meeting with members of Joint Action Committee (JAC) and has vowed to put their demands before Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif.

Talking to the journalists after the meeting, JAC Chairman Sohail Baloch said that the Punjab chief minister heard the members with patience and the party is returning satisfied.

According to the private TV channel, he said that the committee held a three-hour long meeting with Shahbaz Sharif. He added that dialogue with the chief minister was successful as they are returning to Karachi appeased. He said that the chief minister acknowledged their right to put forth stance in the issue.

Baloch said that ultimately the federal government would negotiate with the Pakistan International Airline’s employees. Baloch said that Shahbaz has vowed to forward committee’s demands to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He added that they have informed the chief minister of their reservations over Essential Service Act also.

The chairman quoted the chief minister saying that the government does not want to lose the national airline as it is a national asset. On the other hand, Shahbaz while addressing participants of the meeting said that the government does not want to privatise the PIA for no reason, it cannot bear Rs 10 crore loss on daily basis.

During the meeting, the Joint Action Committee put forth its demands before the chief minister in matter of protests and strike by the employees of Pakistan International Airline over proposed privatization of the company.