Govt focused to restore PIA’s past glory: Tarin

Staff Report 

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin on Tuesday said that the government believed in reviving and regaining the past glory of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and making it a profitable organization.
Chairing a meeting on PIA’s Corporate Business Plan 2022-26 here, the minister stressed to focus on Pakistani diaspora, better customer services and consider possibility of direct flights in the business plan to make PIA a flourishing organization that may contribute for economic development of Pakistan and service our communities at home and abroad.
While appreciating hard work done by the consultant, the chair emphasized that PIA is a national flag carrier and needs to be a world class airline. A detailed presentation was given by foreign consultant of International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the meeting on the PIA’s corporate business plan for 2022-26 covering PIA’s current situation, market dynamics and corporate strategy.
Five-Year recovery roadmap with network strategy was also highlighted to make PIA a viable and profitable organization focusing on increasing efficiency and profitability by considering domestic market, Pakistani community abroad keeping in view internal and external challenges facing the entity.
Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Secretary Aviation, Secretary Finance, Secretary EAD, PIA Board of Directors and Members, CEO PIA and senior officers attended the meeting.
Earlier, The federal government on Tuesday tabled Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021 — generally known as mini-budget in the Senate.
The finance bill was moved by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin amid the opposition’s noisy protest.
The finance supplementary bill, generally known as mini-budget, which it had already presented in the National Assembly, proposes amendments in income tax, sales tax and federal excise duty to impose Rs375 billion taxation measures and withdraws the Rs343 billion sales tax exemption.
Traders and businessmen have urged the government to withdraw 17 per cent sales tax imposed on mobile phones through the mini-budget.