Summary Nawaz Sharif would violate the party manifesto if PIA is privatized, says Khursheed Shah
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Parliamentary committee formed in the matter of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) privatization will convene a meeting on Monday to elect its chairman.
The 21-member committee of the National Assembly (NA) will convene a session today at the Parliament House.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah has said that Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif would violate the party manifesto if PIA is privatized. He said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has announced to oppose the privatization.
He vowed to not let the government privatize the national airlines. Departments like PIA are national assets, he added.
Shah said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has it in its manifesto that the party would not privatize national institutions. The manifesto states that the party would better the institutions instead of selling them.
Know also: PIA privatization: Employees not giving in, protest again
The privatization matter of the national airlines has been in discussion for a long time now. Chinese company has shown interest in purchasing the international airlines however the some sections including the PPP are opposing the idea.
Know more: PIA employees protests against converting PIA into corporation
On the other hand, PIA employees had recently launched series of protests opposing the proposed privatization. The enraged employees had protested in Karachi, Peshawar and at other stations.
Opposition parties in the National Assembly had walked-out of the session twice against the government s move. Following the demonstrations in the House, the government formed a committee to discuss the issue.
According to the government s proposal, a foreign invester would invest 26 percent in the core business of the national airlines. However, the opposition, holding majority in the Senate had annulled presidential ordinance using Article 89.
