- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Dec 01 (APP):Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Monday informed the Senate that a shortage of aircraft and low passenger load was the main reasons behind the discontinuation of flight operations to Chitral.
Winding up debate on a motion moved by Senator Talha Mehmood—seeking discussion on the need to resume flights to and from Chitral airport, the minister said PIA had been operating ATR aircraft to Chitral until 2022 with a passenger load of 64 per cent.
Later, the passenger load dropped further to 41 per cent, while PIA currently has only two ATR aircraft, he added.
The minister said that an earlier attempt to privatize PIA could not be completed; however, the privatization process is now underway again.
Regarding flights to Quetta, he said he would convey the concerns of the members to the PIA Chief Executive Officer.
Meanwhile, responding to a point raised by Senator Sherry Rehman regarding the restoration of the Standing Committee on Aviation Division, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar assured the House that he would apprise the Prime Minister of the matter.