Ok i know we had a thread but it seem to have gotten lost ever since the search function disappeared!

Award for PIA

KARACHI, May 18: Pakistan International Airlines received an award from Manchester Airport Authorities in recognition of its adherence to navigation procedures within the heavily crowded Manchester airspace, says a press release. Capt. Asif A. Raza, director flight operations received the award from Mr John Spooner, Managing director, Manchester Airport, on behalf of the airline. PIA’s efforts in the last year to enforce strict adherence to procedures among pilots has resulted in 95pc navigational accuracy.

KARACHI: New PIA chief motivates management




By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 21: The newly-appointed chairman of the Pakistan International Airlines said on Thursday that a corporation should have a clear vision, a mission, values and a set of code of ethics to function as an efficient and a vibrant organisation to meet the need of its valued customers.

According to a press release, Tariq Kirmani emphasized these principles in his maiden address to the senior management of the national flag carrier.

He said all employees of the PIA should be involved in evolving these standards, and once these are recorded, everyone should own these and ensure adherence to them. “Any deviation, thereafter, would entail punitive actions,” he warned.

Referring to the human resource element, Mr Kirmani said one could ignore the significance of this important factor. “It is the members, which make a family, an organisation or for that matter a nation, good or not so good,” he added.

He stressed the implementation of decisions and policies, and said there should be harmony in what one said and what one practiced.

The chairman said there was great potential in the national airline, which needed to be disciplined for making it a profitable and great airline.

“It is the perception of our customers, which needs to be improved. We have to handle our weaknesses first and only then make our strong points public,” he said.

He said apart from the human resource, the areas of marketing, finance, operations had to improve as well.

The PIA chief also emphasized on training, which, he said, played an important role in human resource development of any organisation. Stressing the significance of two-way communication, he assured to hold regular communicative meetings aimed at critical evaluation.

Discount for senior citizens in PIA

ISLAMABAD, April 21: The laxity of maintenance procedures led to a fire in the engine of PIA’s flight 789 at Manchester airport in the recent past as the aircraft. Responding to a question by MNA Imtiaz Warraich, the defence ministry informed the National Assembly on Thursday that Boeing company attributed the incident of fire to excessive grease in the break assembly and presence of residual cleaning solvents on the heat shield.

The ministry sought time to collect details in response to a question by MNA Dr Attaur Rehman about the number of planes whose engines had been changed during the first two months of the current year and the life period of the engines along with the details of the amount incurred on replacement of engines.

Senior Citizens: In response to another question by MNA Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi, the ministry informed the lower house that senior citizens were being given 20 per cent discount on all domestic flights. The discount would also be applicable to economy and economy plus classes, except in the night coaches.

Leave Rules: In reply to a question by MNA Asadullah Bhutto if all types of leave of PIA employees had been reduced, the ministry informed the house that the national carrier changed leave rules to retrieve the corporation from the brink of an administrative and financial collapse.

The ministry said had the government not intervened to stabilize PIAC and its affairs, the organization would have collapsed.

— Staff Reporter

KARACHI: PIA chief urged to restore accords



By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 20: PIA Cabin-Crew Solidarity Front has demanded of the newly-appointed PIA chief to restore and honour all previous agreements signed between the management and unions. At a press conference here on Wednesday, the front leaders welcomed new PIA chairman, Tariq Kirmani, and demanded that contract system in the flight service department be abolished.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the front leaders, Arif Shafiq, Shamim Akmal and Ashraf Ballu, expressed the hope that Mr Kirmani would manage the airline on really corporate lines.

The speakers, however, criticised the former PIA chief, Ahmed Saeed, terming him “an egoist, self-centred and non-professional person.”

They pointed out that union activities in the airline were suspended for a limited period, but these still continue despite a lapse of three years.

The cabin crew front expressed the hope that the new PIA chief would utilize his abilities for the benefit of the airline and its employees, particularly the cabin crew.

They demanded that for safety of passengers and aircraft, the “10+2” duty time limitation be enforced and curtailed off days be brought at par with other employees.

They said international outstation slip allowance which be revised upward.

They said standard of hotels be brought at par with other international airlines while shortage of 700 cabin crew be addressed immediately.

They were of the view that the post of flight security search be handed to properly trained security staff as was practice in the past.

The front leaders suggested that the huge amount saved by the airline on account of crew shortage may be distributed among cabin crew who shouldered this burden and over-worked. They also demanded that payment of arrears of Rs 180 million be made since 1996 as a goodwill gesture.

KARACHI: Ban demanded on plastic bags




By Mukhtar Alam

KARACHI, April 21: People across the globe will be celebrating the 35th Earth Day on April 22, focussing on concerns about what is happening to our land, rivers, lakes and air. According to conservationists in the megapolis, the day, aimed at putting environment into the political limelight, should be utilized in a way that efforts are initiated to restore what has been damaged.

Clean air and water have been among the major concerns of people, but it was also a time to think about the long prevailing use of polythene bags, and decide to use something else instead.

They also said that people should carry their own bag – big and durable – and environment friendly, so that, at least, the city could be saved from immense environmental and health hazard.

Changes and options always lay with individuals. As such, they should support environmental initiatives and act as trustees of the earth, they remarked.

Polythene as a carrier bag was introduced to provide convenience to humanity, but its improper use and disposing of had turned it into a menace.

The non-degradable bags, which in ideal conditions should end up in landfill sites or burnt in incinerators, are more often seen floating in lakes, rivers and seas.

Today the polythene bags fly in breeze, decorate bushes, hang on trees, litter at ease along roads and streets, where these become air-borne and not only present ugly scenes, but also act as carriers of dust and dirt particles. These airborne polythene bags also reach overhead wiring, get stuck there and cause trouble sometime, experts said. They distort aesthetics, create nuisance, clog sewerage lines, which could be and should be checked.

It is just a matter of managing the amount of polythene in our life to a safe level, and handling of polythene products in a safe manner while in use, store and garbage, added an expert. “It all needs thoughtful and concerted efforts and strong political will,” he commented.

A senior research assistant at the PCSIR, Dr Kauser Ali Syed, said that polythene bags were made of thermoplastic resin, which might add harmful substances to food items. Ready-to-eat food items should not be carried in low- quality polythene bags, he said.

He also stressed the need for fixing and notifying certain specifications of polythene bags and binding manufacturers to adhere to them.

He said that burning of polythene bags like other municipal waste in open air was also not good, as it could create gases, threatening human health. He also opposed making of bags from recycled materials.

According to estimates, the total import of polyethylene in 2003-04 was around 210,000 million tones, out of which Karachi’s share was around 30 per cent.

The number of people employed in the polythene bag business throughout the country in the shape of importers, workers, processing unit owners and employers and sellers of processed materials, etc number around 1.5 million.

Interviews of quarters concerned gave to understand that despite knowing and being convinced that the widespread use of polythene bags was a constant threat to the city’s environment and its amenities, and that there should be a complete ban on their sale and use, authorities had been unable to enforce any ban so far.

In order to ensure a pleasant environment, and avoid pollution, the Karachi city government had fixed July 1, 2004 as the date for implementation of a ban on the manufacturing and sale of polythene bags in the city. It was felt that the bags had been causing obstacles and was damaging the sewerage system as well, according to government sources.

However, things could not move in the required direction in the absence of follow-up actions.

Officials of the city government and experts in the subject, who have been holding meetings in the past, were of the view that only high quality and heavier bags should be produced and used. These would promote the culture of reusing a bag for longer periods, while not being light enough to create environmental pollution. A phase-wise elimination was also suggested.

On the other hand, the government was required to launch an awareness campaign using the print and electronic media, so that people could understand the ill-effects of polythene bags. They also suggested that bags should be made of paper, cotton and palm straw and their use be encouraged.

Independent sources say that a comprehensive law in regard to elimination of polythene bags should be introduced across the country and should not be city or area specific. Otherwise no ban would bring the desired result. Only converters or importers of Karachi would suffer, with other provinces taking advantage of the situation.

Market sources have also expressed fear that implementation of the ban, without taking into confidence the stakeholders, would render about 80,000 workers jobless in Karachi. Besides, it would also bring to a halt about 2,000 small manufacturing units.

KARACHI: PIA men urged to work for customers’ satisfaction

KARACHI, May 18: Pakistan International Airlines chairman Tariq Kirmani has said that PIA employees will have to grasp the customer-focused vision and change their mindset to make the national carrier a commercially viable entity. “Business of an airline is transporting people from one place to another with comfort, convenience and competitive fares,” he said while sharing his views during his meetings with the personnel of engineering department at the Line Management Hanger at Karachi Airport.

“Sales, revenue and turnover do lead to profits, but all of them depend on the number of passengers carried and the operational costs,” he said adding that the status quo would lead nowhere rather result in a downside.

Referring to key performance indicators, he said these were to measure the performance and not a mere gauge of competence.

Mr Kirmani exhorted the engineers to carry out fleet maintenance from passenger’s point of view and always keep in mind that the passenger pays for his travel. Customer acceptance to the airline should be the ultimate goal, which, though difficult, was not impossible, he added.

He termed PIA engineers the best in the world and said they were technically qualified to keep the fleet airworthy. He expressed his confidence in their loyalty towards the airline, and expressed hope that their hard work and dedication would make the uphill task of corporate revival a reality.—APP