An investigation has been ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif into contentious advertising that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) produced to herald the return of flights to Paris.
During a Senate session on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar revealed the development in response to a call to action issued by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman.
Sen. Rehman took issue with the commercial, which showed a PIA plane close to the Eiffel Tower with the slogan “We’re Coming.” She argued that the ad raised serious security concerns and misrepresented the airline’s intentions, leading to public ridicule.
“Who gave their approval for this advertisement, and why was it allowed to air without careful review?” Rehman, the senator, asked. Concerning the airline’s operational situation, she added that only 19 of its 34 planes are presently in service.
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The Prime Minister had taken notice of the issue; Senator Dar responded, and he requested an independent investigation into the making and approval of the advertisement.
Dar reiterated the government’s intention to privatize PIA and stressed that it will be a transparent process. According to him, 22 aircraft—six Boeings, eleven Airbuses, and five ATRs—are in service, while five Boeings and six Boeings are being repaired.
In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister said he was hopeful that PIA flights will resume to the UK by March or April, adding that a UK team would likely travel to Pakistan by the end of January to do a physical evaluation.
Dar recalled comments made by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who asserted that PIA pilots possessed phony permits, in reference to previous disputes.
According to Dar, the statement caused PIA flights to be banned in the US, the UK, and Europe, costing the country’s aviation industry a substantial amount of money each year and harming its reputation.
He went on to say that the cabinet had suggested an investigation into the former minister’s remarks because of the significant impact they had on PIA and the grounding of multiple Pakistani pilots employed by foreign airlines.
Senator Rehman also raised broader concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding PIA’s privatization plan, urging the government to provide transparency. “The grounding of aircraft and uncertainty over the airline’s future need urgent attention,” she said.
Dar, while defending the privatization initiative, stated that the process was progressing rapidly and called for Pakistan’s corporate sector to take the lead in reviving the national carrier.
