Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has slashed the fares for Islamabad-Beijing flights with immediate effect to help facilitate passengers travelling between the two Asian countries.
The national flag airline has announced a 30% fare decrease for the Islamabad-Beijing route, which is anticipated to assist customers intending to visit China for studies, business, or family reunions.
The news comes as Pakistan and China mark 2023 as “The Year of Tourism” to encourage cultural and people-to-people exchanges. PIA already runs a weekly passenger service on Sundays from Islamabad to Beijing-Islamabad.
For students who want to visit China, PIA raised the discount rate on its fares to 27% earlier this year. On domestic flights for Eid ul Fitr, the national flag airline also reduced the cost of travel in the economy and executive economy classes by 20%.
The flag carrier is making an effort to remain financially viable despite offering discounts. The National Assembly was informed by Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Kiran Imran Dar last month that PIA had made a profit of almost Rs60 million during the first three months of 2023 (January through March).
Compulsory Services Law implemented
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) recently re-implemented Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 which will enable the carrier to take punitive actions against employees who don’t follow lawful orders.
A notification issued by the PIA chief executive officer (CEO) on April 27 read that the the firm was passing through unprecedented times due to the prevalent economic condition of the country, a situation that has resulted in severe cash flow constraints.
“Having been enforced, a number of obligations are imposed on the employees of the PIA with regard to performance of their duties, breach of which is not only to be treated as a misconduct under the company’s rules but also to be taken as an offence under the act,” it said while adding that lately few employees had shown mala fide intention of influencing the operations over delayed payment of salaries.
The act also applies to employees who abandon their job or absent themselves from work or refuse to work or depart from any area specified in an order under sub-section (1) of section 4 without the consent of the authority and reasonable excuse.
“Any person found guilty of an offence under this act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and shall also be liable to a fine,” it stated.
