Pakistan to double compensation for Karachi air crash victims

Karachi: The Pakistan government is doubling the compensation for victims of the Pakistan International Airlines’ flight PK-8303 from Lahore, which crashed in Karachi a few minutes before landing in May last year.

Members of the bereaved family will now receive Rs 10 million as financial compensation. There were 91 passengers and eight crew members on board the flight that crashed in Model Colony area of Karachi. Only two passengers survived the crash that also damaged houses and vehicles.

The announcement to increase the compensation was made by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail while addressing a press conference along with Chief Executive Officer of PIA, Arshad Malik, at Governor House.

Earlier, the Sindh governor and the PIA chief met along with other officials of the national flag carrier to review the process of compensation.

Ismail informed the media that the compensation had been doubled on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan who had issued special instructions to him to take care of the victims’ families.

He said that he would invite the families to the Governor House to listen to their grievances.

He said families of 27 passengers had presented succession certificates as an insurance company was involved in paying the compensation. A team of lawyers associated with the PIA had been constituted so that these certificates could be prepared for the other families too, he said.

He said compensation worth Rs 100,000 would be paid for the baggage of the passengers on the flight.

The CEO of PIA said that payments had been made to compensate for the losses on the ground due to the air tragedy. He said payments were due in the case of only four homes whose reconstruction or repair was required due to the damage caused by the air crash.

Compensation has already been paid to the owners of 13 homes damaged in the incident.