PIA not to appease VIPs in Naya Pakistan

KARACHI: As anti-protocol movement gradually engulfing across the country, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) also jumped the bandwagon and put up a sign stating a hassle-free travel for all its passengers.

The PIA sign reads: ‘No Protocol, No Seat Blocking’ and image of the display was shared by the PIA on its twitter page with a message ‘All passengers are equally important to us…”

Under the newly invoked austerity measures, the government has ordered immediate withdrawal of VIP protocol given by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to influential people at airports.

The decision took effect from August 26 (Sunday) after the Ministry of Interior issued directives to all officials concerned of the FIA to implement the orders forthwith.

The VIP protocol was usually given to politicians, legislators, senior bureaucrats, judges, military officials and journalists.

According to Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, “We have decided to strictly implement the decision to provide equal opportunities to all travellers without any discrimination.”

He adds that action will be taken against officials seen giving special treatment to any traveler.

It had been observed that influential people were given VIP protocol at airports so that they could avoid standing in long queues and get cleared their luggage without any hassle, he said.

“We have seen that influential people used to seek assistance of FIA officials at airports who (officials) accompanied them to promptly clear their luggage,” the minister said.

“It has been decided that all the top government officials, including the president, prime minister, chief justice, senate chairman, speaker national assembly and the chief ministers will travel in club/business,” Fawad Chaudhary had told media.

He said that the discretionary allocation of funds by the prime minister and the president and other officials was also stopped by the Cabinet.

The prime minister also decided to stop using special plane for foreign visits or domestic travelling and use business class.