Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has told its pilots and flight attendants that during the month of Ramzan not to keep fast on their on-flight duty days.
PIA, Pakistan’s national flag carrier, cited a medical recommendation that says an individual faces dehydration and issues of laziness and sleep while observing a fast. During flights, the Corporate Safety Management and Air Crew Medical Centre have recommended that pilots and cabin crew members of PIA should not fast.
“The PIA’s top management, based on these recommendations, has issued compliance orders to the pilots and cabin crew personnel with immediate effect,” said an official of the ailing airline, reported PTI.
Because of these recommendations, cabin crew staff and pilots have been briefed not to fast when they are on duty for domestic or international flights.
In its orders, the Pakistan International Airlines management said that if any pilot or crew member was found fasting, he/she would not be permitted to board the flight.
Privatisation of PIA
According to media reports, recently the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif approved the privatisation of the country’s ailing national flag carrier PIA before June 15.
In 2022, PIA was the third-highest public sector loss-making entity in Pakistan, requiring Pakistani Rs 11.5 billion per month solely for servicing its debts, reported the Express Tribune newspaper.
According to the financial report of PIA, because of the depreciation of the rupee against the USD, the company suffered a loss of Rs 60.71 billion in the first six months of 2023.