*KARACHI – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has kicked off anunprecedented anti VIP movement in the National Air Carrier.*

*PIA has 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 thedisplay was shared by the PIA on its twitter page with a message ‘Allpassengers are equally important to us…”

[image: PIA protocol Pakistan]link

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

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

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

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

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

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

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