RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Pakistan Airlines Pilots’ Association (PALPA) has requested the government to resolve the issue of 44 percent pilots’ salaries cut (25 percent recent and 19 percent previous).

According to the PALPA, despite the Covid-19 outbreak worldwide, PIA pilots are working day and night for the progress and reputation of the national carrier and ensuring all possible services to the passengers. However, pilots salaries are being further slashed by 25 percent to 30 percent, which PALPA termed as the violation of the directives of Prime Minister of Pakistan whereby he has instructed not to reduce any employees’ salaries in these harsh times of Covid-19.

The PALPA urged the Prime Minister to intervene in this matter in order to end the difficulties of the pilots and other employees.

Moreover, the PALPA stated that the latest Admin Order No. 13/2020 dated 27th October 2020 showed the management’s vengeance in total violation of ICAO Annex-6 and ANO-V of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.

With the Admin Order, PIACL management has introduced a culture of harassment for pilots, PALPA said and added that the very idea to impose financial penalties using Flight Data Monitoring System (FDM) is in explicit contrast and averse to this non-punitive concept.

“Keeping in mind the current state of emergency, due to the Covid-19 affecting the entire world, only very few airlines are operating passenger flights with PIA being the forerunners. The Flight crew is risking their lives,” PALPA said.

“Without any notification further deduction in gross salaries of the pilots is unjustified and will lower the already rock bottom morale of the community which is demoralized and under severe pressure due to stressful and draconian working conditions.”