Omar1984
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2008
- Messages
- 12,296
- Reaction score
- 0
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered accumulated losses of over Rs 40 billion since January 2008, with losses of Rs 5.4 billion in the first six months of 2009. Briefing the National Assembly on Friday, the Defence Ministry said the PIAs losses in 2008 amounted to Rs 35.88 billion. Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said there were no plans to privatise the national airline despite the losses. He said PIA was assessing various aircraft for induction into its fleet and would consider other options for tapping financial resources after finalising the type of aircraft. To a question, Human Rights Minister Syed Mumtaz Alam Gilani said 6,878 cases of human rights violations had been reported since July 1, 2008, adding 2,998 of the cases had been reported from Punjab, 2,358 from Sindh, 852 from the NWFP and 670 from Balochistan. To another question, Gilani said work on the Benazir International Airport in Islamabad and the Gwadar International Airport was underway and would be completed by 2012. Communications Minister Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan informed the House that revenue of Rs 2 billion had been generated from toll tax on motorways during the 2008-09 fiscal year. The National Assembly was also told that the federal government was working on a plan to expand and improve the roads network throughout the country to boost economic activities. irfan ghauri