Proposed PIA sell-off

This is apropos a Business Recorder news item “Senate body against PIA sell-off” carried by the newspaper yesterday. According to it, the government has been warned of stiff resistance in case of privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) during the last four months of its tenure and was recommended to put on hold the privatisation of national flag carrier.

“The privatisation of PIA in the remaining four months of the present government will create enormous implementation problems for the next government, therefore, let the next government take a decision on the matter, recommended a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation and Statistics presided over by Mohsin Aziz”, the news item said.

Although, the Senate body’s approach to the government plan makes greater sense, the honourable members of the committee, including Mr Mandviwalla, seem to be lacking wisdom to fully appreciate PML-N’s ploy. The ruling party will never privatise PIA or Pakistan Steel just weeks or months before the elections; it didn’t do it in the initial phase of its five-year tenure. This PML-N tenure will always be remembered, among other things, of sacrificing country’s economic interests at the altar of political expediency.

LAHORE HAROON RAZA