Pakistan airline workers end strike

Islamabad: Workers of Pakistan’s state-owned airline announced the end of their strike against a government privatisation plan after a dialogue with the concerned authorities.

The nearly one-week strike brought the flight operation of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to a complete standstill, affecting thousands of passengers. Hundreds of international and domestic flights were cancelled during the strike.

Two PIA employees were also killed when law enforcement agencies clashed with protesting workers in Karachi last week.

The government planned PIA privatisation as it has been incurring losses, accredited mainly to overstaffing.

The government was involved in talks with the leaders of the employees and this led to the end of the strike, chairman of employees’ Joint Action Committee, Sohail Baloch, said in Karachi on Tuesday evening.

He asked PIA employees to offer their full cooperation in resuming the flight operation of the national flag carrier. Baloch said a delegation of the union will soon meet officials to sort out issues, adding that the government has assured its every possible cooperation.

Flights resumed on Tuesday, PIA spokesman Daniyal Gilani said.