Aviation ministry causes loss of millions to Pakistan

The recent spate of complaints coming from British Nationals of Pakistani origin, who grew up on the dole has come at a great expense to the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

The British government has asked Qatar Airways to repatriate over 2,500 stranded British Nationals of Pakistani descent from Pakistan to the United Kingdom (UK).

The charter service has been given the green light by Aviation Ministry and would come at a dent of GBP 1.3 million approximately (PKR 267 million) at a time when PIA has its fleet grounded and the livelihoods of thousands at stake. With its resources running dry as the lockdown and suspension of travel continues into yet another month, it was a much-needed opportunity or respite gone to waste or lost to its biggest competitor.

Qatar played a key role in putting the National Flag carrier in a mess to begin with. Gulf Oil rich carriers with their strategy of capacity glut or dumping in the market is fundamentally the reason for the dilemma a traditional dry carrier like PIA is in, as it simply cannot compete with their network, resources and subsidized fuel. Yes, the National Flag carrier runs dry hauls; they don’t serve alcohol onboard unlike its Gulf contemporaries. Perhaps, something these dual nationals desired to keep themselves busy during the 7 to 8 hours flight. Very British of them indeed, not to turn down free liquor.

It is rumored that an influential Minister who has a soft corner for the overseas expatriate community pleaded the Qatar deal with the government.

First, it was the pilots pouncing around with the COVID scare; blowing it out of proportion or rather under the garb of insufficient measures and means of protection with the ulterior motives or intent to arm twist the management into sweeter deals. Enough optics and traction were made in the media to bring the management to accept their most of demands – return of salary deduction for the COVID fund.
PIA has operated a number of flights in the last couple of weeks, with all crew being tested, the incidence of crew or a pilot getting infected has been less than 0.1%. Tall claims only, those testing positive later on become negative too.

Welcome to the times of narrative building, now that they are all settled and happy with guaranteed 75 hours of flying without any reduction or deduction in salary or perks, the dual nationals have started making a ruckus for being charged exorbitantly. The best of both the worlds, they are British when it suits them and then become Pakistani when they have to boss around the regular brown Joes left behind by the departing colonials. The social media is full of firebrand clips of very patriotic and over enthusiastic British Nationals of Pakistani decent with fake accents urging the Queen and their government to bail them out, left at the mercy of native savages who desire to rob them of their hard earned social security dole-outs. The hypocrisy of it all is just simply unnerving. Complaints for the sake of complaints, these are extraordinary circumstances in which these flights are operating, mostly coming back empty and hence warrants higher fares to meet costs.

Comparing this situation to a normal commercial operation is foolhardy. But people accustomed to free discounts, will try their level best to continue receiving perks at whatever cost. They are getting an option which ordinary citizens doesn’t have, go back to their home country and enjoy better healthcare. If the concerns were genuine then perhaps cost wouldn’t matter much, as those holding return tickets would also get refunds.

Where ever has the national spirit, patriotism or plain and simple love of the soil gone to and why aren’t we being altruistic in this most dire and testing of times and where is the support the government needs to give to its citizens vis-à-vis the employees of the National Flag carrier?

The answer unfortunately seems presumably buried deep under the sand of narrative building and unnecessary political wrangling to generate the sympathy vote. Sympathy cramming and crying wolf, seems to have worked. A few clips and a few people chanting slogans and everything caves in, loss by losing business and loss by charging less. Loss at all ends.

It is time these Dual Nationals decide whether they are Pakistanis or British and the merry men and women at the helm of government affairs checked for their patriotic spirits.

Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for latest news and updates!