ISLAMABAD:

PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik on Friday maintainedthat the national carrier would become a profitable entity in the next fewyears.

“We are trying to reduce the PIA’s losses with the cooperation of theprivate sector,” he said while addressing a ceremony where an agreement wassigned between the airline and a private bank.

The PIA CEO pointed out that the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA)had expressed its satisfaction over the measures taken by the airline inconnection with its safety management system.

“We are facing issues because of the coronavirus pandemic but the PIA willsoon reach new heights,” he added.

He further said the PIA had reduced fares to provide relief to the peopledespite facing challenges because of Covid-19.

Last month, the government approved a plan that seeks to lay off over 3,800regular and contractual employees of the PIA — one out of every threepersons — to cut annual losses by Rs4.2 billion.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved a Rs12.87billion Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) for PIA employees to be paid intwo- and-a-half years’ time.