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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Denies PIA Safety Concerns Amid Engineers’ Protest
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif rejects claims that PIA flights are unsafe, calling them “baseless propaganda,” as engineers protest over pay and safety concerns.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-10
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Denies PIA Safety Concerns Amid Engineers’ Protest

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday rejected claims that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was failing to meet international safety standards, calling such allegations “totally baseless” and harmful to national interests.

Asif’s comments came after a disruption of PIA’s flight operations on November 3, when engineers refused to issue aircraft clearances, citing safety concerns. The protest affected domestic and international flights, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded, particularly those traveling to Saudi Arabia.

In an X post, the minister stated, “Safety is non-negotiable, but unqualified people cannot dictate it in the presence of Pakistani and international regulators. PIA flight [operations] strictly adhere to PCAA and international safety standards.”

He added that PIA has generated an average daily revenue of Rs600 million over the past three days while maintaining regular domestic and international flight schedules. Highlighting the airline’s expansion, Asif noted that PIA now serves destinations including Toronto, Manchester, Paris, Saudi Arabia, China, and the Far East, with plans to add more routes to Europe and North America.

The disruption comes amid a longstanding protest by engineers represented by the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP). Engineers have raised concerns over salary disparities and aircraft maintenance practices, claiming pilots receive pay hikes while engineers’ salaries remain stagnant. They also allege being forced to reuse old aircraft parts instead of new ones, which they say could compromise passenger safety.

While the matter has escalated into a public standoff, resulting in flight delays and the suspension of some SAEP officials, Asif emphasized his support for the airline’s efforts to return to profitability and expand its network. He accused critics of spreading “malicious news” aimed at sabotaging the national carrier.

PIA’s engineers and management now face the challenge of resolving their differences while ensuring that passenger safety and flight operations remain uncompromised.
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PIA

AviationSafety

KhawajaAsif

PakistanAirlines
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